observed Fairburn. "Remember, we have only our own selves to
account for. If we are preserved, it is not because of our own merits,
but by his inscrutable will, for some end we know not of. If they are
lost, it is not because they are worse than we, but because He knows
that it is better that so it should be."

The pirates seeing us talking, and fancying that we did not work as hard
as we might, gave us a hint to be silent, by showing us the point of a
spear, and we were obliged to bale away harder than ever. While we were
at work, the clouds opened, the sky in the horizon cleared slightly, and
there were evident signs of the gale breaking. In a little time more
the gale lessened, and the sea no longer ran so perilously high as
before. Still we were in much danger, for the leaks rather increased
than lessened, and it required the utmost exertions of all hands to keep
the vessel free of water. We hoped, however, when it grew calm, that
the leaks would close, and that we might be able to pursue our voyage.

In this condition the night overtook us. Whether we should keep afloat
till daylight, none of us could say. It was one of the most weary
nights I ever spent; for we were allowed no cessation from our toil. We
now felt that we were slaves indeed. Our masters looked on, and some
slept while we worked. Daylight found us still labouring. The pirates
looked out anxiously to discover some of their consorts. Two were in
sight in the far distance, but they beheld another spectacle, which
filled them with alarm, while it made our hearts bound with hope. It
was a square-rigged vessel, her topsails just visible above the horizon
and from the squareness of her yards, and the whiteness of her canvas,
we trusted that she was a man-of-war. The Illanons, who are well
accustomed to discern the various classes of vessels, and to know their
armaments, that they may avoid catching a Tartar, were of our opinion.
The stranger was to windward, so that they would have had but small
chance of escaping, even by attempting to pull up in that direction. By
keeping before the wind, when their oars would less avail them, their
chance of escape was still smaller. We watched the proceedings of the
stranger with intense interest. The other two prahus were nearer to her
than we were, and thus she would certainly make sail after them before
she attempted to follow us; and, in the meantime, it was possible that,
by keeping on a wind, t