ctitude of my character; but pray continue your tale."

It must be remembered that although there were numbers of people within
earshot, as this conversation was carried on in the Romaic, none of them
understood it, which was, perhaps, fortunate for our stranger friend, as
it would certainly have drawn their attention towards him; and if a man
happens to be unknown in a place, the slightest shade of suspicion
thrown on him, is sufficient to blacken his character to the darkest
tint.

The Greek rubbed his red cap off and on his head two or three times to
brighten his recollection, and then continued--

"While the pirates were ransacking below, their vessel ran alongside,
and our decks were soon crowded with a cut-throat set of fellows, who
speedily joined their comrades in the work of plunder, and in
transporting everything they considered of value to their own ship. It
is extraordinary with what rapidity bales and packages were handed out
of one vessel into the other. The rascals must have been well
accustomed to the work. Everything was done with the greatest
regularity; their young leader directing all their movements. It did
not take them a quarter of the time to unload that it had taken to load
the vessel. Such discrimination, too, as the villains showed in
selecting the most valuable merchandise.

"In the midst of the work, however, a cry was raised that a strange sail
was in sight, right to windward, bearing down on us. With all their
avidity for booty, the fellows had kept their eyes about them in the
dark. Their leader sprang on board his own vessel to have a clearer
view. He was convinced that the strange vessel was an enemy to him at
all events, though a friend to us; and calm and collected as if he was
enjoying a game of play, he issued his orders. The first was to tell
his people to quit the brigantine, and to make sail on the brig. The
second, part of which I heard, made my heart sink within me, and my
blood run cold. He did not seem to think it had reached our ears,--
indeed, I believe he had forgotten all about us; the words were--

"`Sink her--drown the people. No help for it--patience; we should
otherwise be suspected.'

"Directly afterwards, several men with carpenters' instruments for
boring holes, went below, and quickly returning, knocked our boat to
pieces, and jumped on board their own vessel. As soon as all the
pirates had quitted us, the brig sheered off. Just as she did so,