are free from the risk of capture by
the English cruisers on this station. On the other side of the
Atlantic, they have to look after themselves, but they get pretty
correct information, and three in four escape capture, so that his
adventures pay him handsomely. Having, as I said, grown honest, he
deals at present exclusively in blacks, but he is known to have
committed not a few acts of piracy in his younger days, and the deaths
of two or three British officers, and the crews of several merchantmen,
are placed to his account."

"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Jack. "I do not fancy partaking of his
hospitality."

"As you please, Mr Rogers; but I would advise you to put your feelings
in your pocket," was the answer. "Remember that you do not go to the
fellow's house for your own amusement, but for the good of the service
in which you are engaged."

"Yes, I see that you are right," said Jack. "I will do my best to catch
one of his craft, at all events."

Accordingly, on his arrival on board, he sent Needham in the dinghy, as
before, to take a quiet pull among the ships. The gunner came back
about midnight, and reported that the people were as busy as bees on
board the schooner, that the sails were being bent, and, according to
his opinion, she was getting ready for sea.

"Then she intends to sail tomorrow night, while I am on shore," observed
Jack. "I'll go, however, and try if we can play as good a game as she
can."

"That's it, sir; you will have plenty of time to get on board after she
slips out, and we can soon be after her."

Jack accordingly ordered a boat to be in waiting for him and his
officers, at one of the less-frequented landing-places, a couple of
hours after dark, intending to remain at the party till that time, and
then to return on board. He also gave directions to Needham to have the
cable hove short, and everything to be ready for getting under weigh at
a moment's notice. He then told Bevan and the other officers who were
to accompany him that they were to leave Don Matteo's house, if
possible, without being noticed, and that he himself would follow at the
time he had fixed on.

It was still daylight when he and his officers, including three
midshipmen in full rig, pulled on shore to attend the ball.

The sun was just setting as they arrived at the wide entrance of Don
Matteo's handsome mansion, to which numerous volantes, in rapid
succession, were bringing up the fair dancers, while ge