, villains as they were, had
been shocked at this last catastrophe. "Seize him!"

"Touch him not!" cried Francisco, standing on the hammock-netting;
"touch him not! if you are men."

Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew his pistol,
and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up the arm of Cain as he
fired; saw that he had missed his aim, and clasping his hands, raised
his eyes to heaven in thankfulness at Francisco's escape. In this
position he was collared by Hawkhurst, whose anger overcame his
discretion, and who hurled him through the entering-port into the sea.

"Officious fool!" muttered Cain, when he perceived what the mate had
done. Then, recollecting himself, he cried,--"Seize that boy and bring
him here."

One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders; but Pompey and the
Kroumen, who had been attentive to what was going on, had collected
round Francisco, and a scuffle ensued. The pirates, not being very
determined, nor very anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to be
hurried away in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to the
schooner.

In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the men on board of the
ship, had been tearing up the hold to obtain the valuables, but without
success. The water had now reached above the orlop-deck, and all
further attempts were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it
became necessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner; that she might
not be endangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel. Cain and
Hawkhurst, with their disappointed crew, returned on board the schooner,
and before they had succeeded in detaching the two vessels a cable's
length the ship went down with all the treasure so coveted. The
indignation and rage which were expressed by the captain as he rapidly
walked the deck in company with his first mate--his violent
gesticulation--proved to the crew that there was mischief brewing.
Francisco did not return to the cabin; he remained forward with the
Kroumen, who, although but a small portion of the ship's company, were
known to be resolute and not to be despised. It was also observed that
all of them had supplied themselves with arms, and were collected
forward, huddled together, watching every motion and manoeuvre, and
talking rapidly in their own language. The schooner was now steered to
the north-westward under all press of sail. The sun again disappeared,
but Francisco returned not to the cab