ear on the frigate, she continued firing with them, in
return for a shot which the latter sent after her. She now stood
directly in for the mouth of the harbour, and as she approached close to
it her sails were quickly furled, and several boats went out to her, to
assist in getting her in, while her own boats were lowered for the same
purpose.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

THE ISLAND CAPTURED.

"The game is not over yet," observed Deane, who with Elizabeth still
stood on the rock watching the progress of the fight. "The crew of the
frigate are busily employed in repairing damages. As soon as that is
done, and the other two ships come up, depend upon it, they will attack
the island, and, with the strong force the English will then have, the
pirates will be utterly unable to resist them."

"Alas! alas! I wish we could have escaped from the island before this
had occurred! I tremble for the fate of my poor mother, for such I must
still call her--and what will become of Master Pearson? for, as far as I
can judge, he seems to be the head of the whole community."

"For the kindness with which he has ever treated you, if he escapes with
his life from the battle, I will use all my influence to protect him,"
answered Deane. "At the same time, I think it likely he will fight to
the last. He seems a man who would not yield, as long as a hope of
success remains."

"Let me go then and tell my poor mother of what has occurred, and
prepare her for the worst," exclaimed Elizabeth.

"Oh, no! stay here, let me entreat you!" he answered. "You will be
safer on this rock, and I may possibly be able to make some signal to
the boats as they come in, and thus you will escape the desperate
struggle which is likely to take place when the crews land and attack
the pirates. Or stay! if you can persuade Mistress Pearson to come
here, she will be safer than in her own house. But you must not go
alone: I will accompany you, and try and bring her back."

To this plan Elizabeth willingly agreed, and she and Deane immediately
hurried forward towards the village. The alarm of the poor lady was
very great when she heard what was likely to occur, but she positively
refused to quit the house.

"Go, go!" she replied to Elizabeth's entreaties. "Leave me to my fate:
Mr Deane will protect you better than I can, and you are not bound
either to that unhappy man my husband or to me."

Deane had now some difficulty in persuading Elizabeth to ret