s
standing close to, intimated that the following vessel was a pirate
ship, and that she would soon overhaul them if the wind did not
strengthen. Curly was always addressed as "Johnny" by Mrs Macvie, who
was very fond of him, and as "Jake" by her husband, with whom he was a
great favourite. The lady observed the concerned manner of the captain,
and requested him to confer with Johnny as to the method of resistance
should the schooner run alongside and the pirates attempt to come
aboard. "He knows all about their tricks, and what they like and what
they don't; let us hear what he has to say, Archie," said Mrs Macvie.
So forthwith Jake was called into their presence. This resourceful
gentleman was quite elated at the prospect of having some fun, as he
termed it. His recommendations were of a very painful and drastic
character. He talked of putting them into practice in a cool,
frosty-blooded way which caused the lady and her husband to shudder.
"It is too dreadful, Johnny," remarked Mrs Macvie; "surely what you say
has never been resorted to, even to defeat the objects of pirates?"

"I don't suppose it has," said the sanguinary John; "but if you wish to
save your property and the lives of yourselves and your crew, you will
have to stick at nothing. My advice is, do your best to show them a
clean pair of heels. If you get plenty of wind in the narrows you will
easily do it; but be prepared for the worst. This is my plan: have
everything that will hold in, filled with boiling water, boiling oil,
and boiling pitch; have the old muskets ready for firing. If they ask
you to shorten sail, don't do so. They will then run alongside, and as
soon as they put their hands on the rail, blind them with boiling
liquid. Then shoot with the rifles, and they won't want much telling to
go away."

The chase was long and exciting. Sometimes the pirate vessel was very
nearly within gun range, then the breeze would strengthen and she would
fall astern. This alternate gaining and losing continued all day, until
the sun went down behind the mountains far away to the north of them,
and seemed to carry with it the breeze on which they had to depend for
their safety. The chasing vessel gathered way as soon as the wind fell
light, and the people of the _Boadicea_ saw that all hope of avoiding a
fight must be discounted. Curly advised having it before darkness came
on, but there was no need to wish for this as the stern inevitable had
come. The pira