not hitherto attacked us. We expected them to do so every
moment. In a few minutes the whole of the party except the two men who
had taken to flight and ourselves, were massacred.

"We must fight to the last if we are attacked," said Harry; "but don't
fire first. Perhaps the savages, when they see the bold front we show,
will think it wiser to let us alone."

Our hopes, however, were soon dashed to the ground; for the negroes,
seeing only our small force opposed to them, after shouting and
shrieking, and making significant signs, advanced towards us. Although
we might have shot down three of them, we should inevitably have been
overpowered. Still we would not yield without striking a blow, and we
were on the point of firing when a white man appeared, followed by a
fresh party of blacks, and as he advanced from the shadow of the wood, I
recognised Mr Pikehead, the first mate of the "Vulture." On seeing
only Harry, Tubbs, and me together, he exclaimed--

"Put down your arms and your lives are safe. The other fellows have met
the fate they deserved," and he kicked the body of one of the pirates.
"They were deserters; but you had a perfect right to make your escape if
you could. You have, however, failed, and must come back with me. Our
captain will decide what is to be done with you."

"We'll not yield until you call these fellows off," answered Harry; "we
shall then be able to treat with you."

The pirate laughed, for he fancied that he had us in his power.

"What shall we do?" asked Harry, addressing Tubbs and me.

"We had better give in, sir," said Tubbs. "The odds against us are too
great, and although we might shoot that fellow and a couple of the
blacks, we should be certain to lose our lives. If he promises to carry
us safe on board the schooner, scoundrel though he is, he will keep his
word, and we may have another opportunity of escaping."

"We must make a virtue of necessity," I observed, "and I agree with
Tubbs."

In the meantime the mate was shouting to the blacks to fall back,
allowing him space to approach us.

"I again promise you your lives, my men," he said, as he stopped a few
paces off, still holding a blunderbuss in his hand, pointed towards us.
"You are plucky fellows, and I wish to do you no harm, although you have
given me a long tramp which I would gladly have avoided."

I felt convinced from his tone that he spoke the truth, and we all three
accordingly lowered our weapons.