o cut the ropes which bound my brother's hands would be the work of a
moment, and I hoped, by the suddenness of the attack we were about to
make, to keep Captain Roderick down until that object was effected. We
should then be three to one, or four to one if we saved the lieutenant's
life.

Harry understood perfectly what he was to do. One bound would carry him
to where the pirate stood. The moment came, I sprang forward, and
throwing my arms round his neck, kicked him violently behind the knees.
Although I was so much lighter, the effect was what I expected. Down he
fell, and his pistol went off, the ball grazing the lieutenant's
forehead. The lashings which held Charley were cut, and he immediately
came to my assistance, while Harry performed the same office for the
lieutenant without difficulty. The sound of the pistol would, I feared,
bring some of the crew down upon us. Fortunately at that moment a
strong breeze had struck the ship. The officers were issuing their
orders, so that we had hopes we might be undisturbed. No time, however,
was to be lost. We quickly lashed the pirate's arms and legs, and
crammed a handkerchief into his mouth. Lieutenant Hallton proposed to
throw him overboard, and then, rushing together on deck, to master the
officers, and try to recall the crew back to their duty. To the first
part of the proposal none of us agreed, but we forthwith dragged the
unhappy man back to his cot and lifted him in. He appeared to me to be
insensible. At all events, when Charley took the handkerchief out of
his mouth, he did not cry out or utter a word, although his eyes glared
at us.

"We might have put you to death," said Charley, "but you are safe if you
will remain quiet, and not attempt to summon any one to set you free."

The pirate did not reply, and I was doubtful if he understood what was
said to him. He must indeed have been surprised at finding himself
again a prisoner at the very moment he supposed that he had regained his
authority. We had now to decide what to do. We might certainly master
one or two officers, but it was a question if the men from the "Rover"
would return to their duty, and still less likely that the pirates would
yield to our authority. Lieutenant Hallton then suggested that we
should drag the pirate up on deck, and, holding a pistol to his head,
threaten to shoot him if he did not order the crew to obey us. To this
I for one strongly objected.

Charley thou