in
the boat as if, even had she been seen, he could have been
distinguished. On sailed the brig; gradually her sails began to
disappear below the horizon. The pirate still continued the chase. For
some time no one in the boat thought of working. We were roused up by
finding that the water was rapidly gaining on us, and we all had to turn
to and pump and bale harder than ever. We were in hopes that after all
the brig might escape, when the boom of a gun came over the water,
followed by another and another. It was too probable that the pirate
had got her within range. Both vessels had now disappeared below the
horizon, at the same time the wind where we were had completely died
away. As far as the pirate was concerned, we began to breathe more
freely; it was not likely that he would again pass near us. But the sun
shone forth from the clear sky with intense heat, roasting our heads and
the brains within them, and making whatever pitch remained between the
planks of our deck bubble up as if it had been boiling. There we lay,
our boat rolling from side to side, without a particle of shade to
shelter us. Our little cabin was like an oven. When we were to rest it
became simply a question whether in making the attempt we should be
roasted on deck or baked below. We had not much time for idleness yet:
though we worked very hard, it was not till nightfall that our rigging
was set up sufficiently to enable us to make sail.

When the sun set there was not a breath of air, while the surface of the
ocean was as smooth as a sheet of glass, though every now and then a
swell rose under the boat's keel, making her roll for ten minutes
afterwards, while it glided slowly away in the distance. The only
sounds were the clank of the pump and the dash of water from the
scuppers or buckets, and an occasional snort of some huge fish, or the
splash it made when plunging down into its liquid home. Thus the hours
of the night passed away. We were so weary and sleepy that the instant
we were relieved from the pump we lay down and were lost in
forgetfulness. The day broke, the sun rose higher and higher, and beat
hotter and hotter, and all around us was the same smooth, glassy ocean.
Now and then the surface was broken by a flight of flying fish as they
rose out of it and darted along through the air, glittering bright in
the sunbeams, like a covey of silver birds.

"Ah, now! if some of you would just have the goodness to come abo