nother into it.

Having at length got their breath, Jake Irwin put forward the sensible
suggestion that they should take their morning meal at once; and they
proceeded to do so, all, however, with a very unpleasant feeling that it
might quite possibly be their last. They finished with a hearty draught
of brandy-and-water, to put some spirit into them after their toilsome
night's work, Bevan and Irwin having taken especial care to bring a good
quantity of the liquor along. Then they scrambled cautiously up and had
a look at the schooner, taking care to remain well hidden themselves.
They were, in their present position, much nearer to the pirate vessel
than when they first saw her, and, as the sun got up and shone on her
stern, they could, with some little difficulty, make out her name--the
_Black Pearl_,--which was painted in large red letters across her
counter. Presently signs of returning life were apparent on board, and
soon afterwards a boat was filled with men and lowered. It pushed off
as soon as it touched the water, and made for the shore.

How fortunate was it, thought Roger, and how much like a special
dispensation of Providence for their safety, that they had forgotten to
replenish the fire on the night before! Had it been burning, the
pirates would have known that living beings were on the island, for
Evans's body gave evidence that it had been dead too long for them to
suppose that a fire lit by him would still be burning. The remains of
it they certainly would see, but they would doubtless believe that Evans
had made it, and that it had gone out after his death, little dreaming
that at the moment when they let go their anchor the ashes could have
been scarcely cold.

While these thoughts were passing through Roger's mind, the boat landed,
and her people got out and proceeded quickly up the beach. A shout
presently announced that they had caught sight of the new hut, toward
which all hands at once wended their way. For some time nothing was
seen or heard of the pirates; but eventually three of them went down to
the beach again, and, entering the boat, pulled off to the ship.

"Going to inform Leirya that the victim of his cruelty is dead,"
whispered Roger to Bevan; and the latter nodded.

After the boat had remained some few minutes alongside the _Black
Pearl_, a man of enormous size was seen to descend the ship's side and
enter her, when she again pushed off, and was pulled shorewards once
mo