edition pulled on for the
shore. Mr Cherry and about five-and-twenty men landed, and, the ground
being open, marched up towards the huts, carrying the two prisoners with
them. One of them was then made to understand that he must go and make
inquiries as to whether they knew what had become of the two ladies and
the other people the pirates had carried off. The man nodded his head
and showed that he fully comprehended what he was to do. While they
were speaking, some thirty or forty natives appeared at a short distance
off. "Understand," added the interpreter, "you may go as far as that
tree, so that you may talk to those people, but if you go a foot
farther, you will be shot. Remember that we are not joking." The
pirate went on, first very slowly, then rather quicker, then faster and
faster. The natives shouted, and he cried out something in return. He
evidently had friends among them. He reached the tree, he stopped a
moment, then he looked back; the marines, looking very grim with their
muskets presented, stood ready to fire. He talked on, then he looked
again; the desire to escape overcame all his fears. He sprang forward,
but, as he did so, half a dozen bullets were lodged in his body. No
sooner did he fall, than numbers of natives rushed out from all
directions, and began to fire on the English. Giving the marines time
to reload, Mr Cherry called his men to charge, and dashing forward with
bayonets and cutlasses, they speedily put the enemy to flight. A
considerable quantity of European goods of various descriptions was
found in the houses; as this proved without doubt that the inhabitants
were either pirates or in league with them, the habitations, and such
goods as could not be carried off, were committed to the flames. The
fields, gardens, and plantations of every description were likewise
ruthlessly destroyed.

"It is a cruel necessity," observed Mr Cherry to his subordinates, "but
it must be done. The only way that I can see of putting a stop to
piracy is to teach the pirates that their trade will not longer answer."
Murray was the only one of the party who was not entirely of the
lieutenant's opinion. That evening, when they had returned to the
boats, he addressed Jack Rogers. "I wonder now, whether it might not
answer to catch some of these wild fellows, to show them the beauties
and advantages of Christianity and civilisation, and then send them back
among their countrymen as a sort of mi