," growled out his companion, drawing his long knife from his
belt.

Jack felt that his last moments had come. He, however, eyed his captors
boldly, and tried to nerve himself for the expected stroke. A short
time before, some villains of the same character as those into whose
power he had fallen had murdered a young midshipman, whom they had found
on board a prize they had retaken, and he knew that they would have no
scruple about killing him. The blacks stood by, enjoying, apparently,
his agony; for, brave as he was, it was a bitter thing thus, without
cause, to be cruelly murdered in cold blood. No one spoke. Jack tried
to offer up a prayer to Heaven, but, at such a moment, even to pray was
difficult. His heart, though, was praying, and One who knows what is in
the heart heard him. Suddenly there was a rustling of leaves, a
crashing of boughs. A loud shriek was uttered, and a huge animal leaped
through the brushwood, and, seizing one of the negroes, again bounded
off into the thicket. The unfortunate wretch cried out piteously for
help. The Spaniards and the negroes turned to pursue the wild beast.
From the glimpse Jack had of it, he believed it to be a tiger. The
negro who had been seized was the smallest of the party, and of light
weight; and the savage brute was more accustomed to make his way through
the tangled underwood than were his pursuers. On he went, bounding
through the thicket, his miserable victim in vain crying for assistance.
The rest pursued as fast as they could, apparently forgetting Jack
altogether. They were soon hid from his sight by the trees. He had no
wish to follow them, even had he possessed the power of so doing. His
arms were bound, and before he could do anything he must contrive to get
them loose. He tugged and tugged away frantically. He was afraid his
captors would be back before he could get free, and execute their
murderous threats. By what means he was to escape, he could not just
then tell. The first thing was to obtain the use of his limbs. He
worked away for life and death.

At last he twisted the rope round so that he could reach one of the
knots with his teeth. He pulled away lustily. He found that he was
slackening it. He listened for the shouts and cries of the pirates. He
thought that their voices sounded louder and nearer again. He was every
moment getting the ropes looser. One more tug, and his hands were at
liberty. He struck out on either sid