e of my men, were proceeding to get off the hatches to take the
cargo out of the hold, when a man-of-war, bringing up a strong breeze
from the south, hove in sight. The pirates on discovering her hurried
on board their own craft, carrying away two of my Kroomen, and casting
off the grapplings with which they had made her fast alongside, got out
their long sweeps and pulled away for their lives. As soon as the
remaining Kroomen had set me and the other white men free, we ran out
our guns and began firing at her. She returned our shot; and as she had
more guns and heavier metal than ours, we judged it prudent not to
follow her. When the breeze came, which it did soon afterwards, she
stood away under all sail before the wind. She showed that she was a
fast craft, for she had almost got out of sight before the man-of-war
came up with us. The latter pursued her, but whether she was overtaken
or not I cannot say, as we continued our voyage towards England, and I
saw no more of either of them. The pirates who had boarded us were of
all nations, Spaniards, Portuguese, and French, and there were several
Englishmen among them. That their leader was one I could swear, for I
heard him speaking English to several of the villains; and what is more,
as he gave me a good opportunity of marking his features while I was
bound to the mainmast, I should remember him were I ever to meet him
again."

"I hope that you may never fall in with him again under similar
circumstances," remarked Mr Trunnion. "Should you do so, he will
probably make you walk the plank before he begins discharging your cargo
into his own craft."

While the mate was narrating his adventures I heard a strange race
speaking in an authoritative tone in the outer office. Suddenly the
door was burst open, and a tall powerful man, dressed in riding-boots,
his clothes bespattered with mud, yet having in other respects a
nautical cut about him, entered the room. Mr Trunnion gazed on him
without speaking.

"What, Tom! don't you know me?" exclaimed the new-comer advancing and
putting out his hand. "My beard has grown, and I have become somewhat
sunburnt since we parted."

"Bless my heart! is it you, Roderick?" exclaimed Mr Trunnion. "I own
that I did not recognise you, and was surprised at the intrusion of a
stranger."

Roderick Trunnion, giving a laugh, threw himself into a chair opposite
his brother, who reassumed his usual cold and dignified demeanour as he