ff from the frigate's side and pulled away
for the ship. The three boats contained altogether from five and thirty
to forty hands. It was broad daylight. There would have been no use in
disguising their intentions. If the slaver attempted to defend herself
at all, they might well expect some desperate fighting, and from her
appearance it could scarcely be expected that she would do otherwise.
Hemming's boat, which pulled the fastest, got the lead. The men every
now and then gave a cheer to animate each other. They rapidly neared
the slaver, as the smooth shining water bubbled and hissed under the
boats' bows. Oh, how hot it was, as the sun's rays came directly down
on their heads; but no one thought of the heat, and they laughed and
joked as if they were employed in some amusing occupation.

"I say, Paddy, I think we could do a beefsteak brown on these
stern-sheets," observed Jack, putting his hand down by his side.

"That to be sure we might," answered Terence. "And here comes the
pepper for them," he added, as the pirate sent a shower of round shot,
grape, and canister flying around, and stirring up the water on every
side, though fortunately no one was hit.

"Give it them in return, my lads," cried the second lieutenant;
"marines, fire."

The marines were not slow in obeying the order, and as the seamen bent
to their oars, they continued firing away as fast as they could load.
The slaver's crew had evidently hopes of crippling their adversaries,
for they kept up a brisk and well-directed fire; but, hot as it was, the
gallant British tars were undaunted.

"That dark ship has, perhaps, four or five hundred poor wretches under
hatches whom it is our business to set free," cried Lieutenant Hemming.
"And then, my boys, if we do take her, what a lot of prize-money we
shall get? Hurrah! hurrah!"

Hemming had been too long at sea not to know how to excite the spirit of
seamen.

"We shall have some tough work, hurrah! hurrah! You'll knock over some
of those pirates, depend on it."

Each officer excited his men by similar cries. Their only fear was that
a breeze might spring up, and that the enemy might escape them.
However, though they pulled hard, nearly half an hour passed from the
time the first shot was fired till they got up to the ship.

"What an ugly set of cut-throats the fellows are," said Adair, pointing
to the people who crowded the pirate's deck. "Let's be at them, Jack."

Jack was quite re