had heard the shots, and wondered why they had been fired.
When they told him their suspicions, he advised them to keep below.

"I have my thoughts on the subject," he remarked. "Hark! they are
firing again; there! another shot struck the ship. If it was not for
the heavy sea running we should be worse off than we are. It is no easy
matter to take aim from the deck of a craft tumbling about as the
schooner must be. If it was, depend upon it there would be a score or
more sent into the brig between wind and water."

"But why should the schooner's people be so anxious to make a target of
the brig?" asked David.

"To sink her," answered the old man. "They think, if fallen in with,
she might tell a tale they don't wish to have known. That's my notion,
but I may be wrong."

"There they go again at it!" exclaimed Harry. "Two shots struck us.
Don't you think, David, that we had better go on deck and show
ourselves? They would scarcely try to sink the wreck if they found that
there were people on board, even though they might not take us off."

"The very reason that would make them still more anxious to send us to
the bottom. You had better not show yourselves," said the old man; but
the lads did not hear him, for they were already on their way on deck.

CHAPTER FIVE.

MAKING A RAFT--AFLOAT ON IT--THE GRIEF AT HOME--CAPTAIN RYMER'S
APPOINTMENT--THE VOYAGE.

That raging sea, which it appeared at first would prove the destruction
of those on board the brig, was in reality the means of their
preservation. Just as the boys got their heads above the companion
hatch, another whole broadside was let fly, and though many of the shots
passed over the ship, two or three struck her between wind and water.
Had the sea been calmer, many more probably would have found their way
through her sides, and she must instantly have gone to the bottom. Such
was the fate the boys, not without good reason, now anticipated for her.
Another broadside would prove sufficient.

"Had we not better show ourselves, and ask to be taken on board?" said
David.

"What, boys, and be murdered!" cried the old man from below. "Stick to
the ship, and don't trust those villains. There's One who will take
care of you if you put faith in Him."

"Old Jefferies is right. Let us die rather than go on board the
pirate," said Harry.

Once more they climbed up the companion ladder, from which they had
jumped down at the last broadside. They wat