n-ports. The gun was loaded and run out. "Shall I fire, sir?"
asked Tom Tubbs, who acted as gunner as well as boatswain, running his
eye along the piece.

"Not until we can see her flag," answered the captain; "she may, after
all, be a man-of-war. If we fire she may take us for a pirate, and we
should get small credit for our bravery. We shall see her colours
presently if she yaws to fire at us. Wait until I give the word."

In the meantime the magazine had been opened and powder and shot brought
up on deck; the guns were loaded and run out, the arm-chest was also got
up, and Harry and I, as did all on board, girded hangers to our sides
and thrust pistols into our belts.

The captain shortly afterwards issued the order for all hands to be
ready to shorten sail as soon as no chance remained of escaping without
fighting. Even now there was a hope that we might get away, or that the
stranger might after all prove a friend instead of a foe; every rope was
therefore kept belayed. "Long Tom," as the boatswain called his gun,
was run out, it should be understood, under the poop on which Harry and
I stood. The captain had taken his post near the mizen rigging, so that
he could see all parts alike, and his voice could be heard by Tom and
the crew of the gun below him.

The mates were at their stations ready to shorten sail. I had my
spyglass turned towards our pursuer, endeavouring to get a glimpse of
her flag should she have hoisted one, which she very certainly would
have done were she a King's ship. As I watched her, I could see that
she was gaining upon us. Objects which at first appeared indistinct
were now clearly visible. I could make out the men on the forecastle,
but I saw no gun there with which she could return the compliment our
"Long Tom" was about to pay her. So far this was satisfactory.

"Were she a King's ship she would have fired a gun without altering her
course, as a signal for us to heave to," observed the captain.

Scarcely had he spoken than the stranger yawed--a gun was fired, and a
shot came towards us, striking the water and sinking close under our
counter. At the same moment, raising my glass, I caught sight of the
British ensign flying from the end of the peak.

"Hurrah!" I exclaimed; "she's a King's ship, and we are all right."

"We must not be too sure of that," observed Harry; "pirates can hoist
false colours. We want better proof of her honesty before we heave to.
Had she b