ved the bull's-eye.

"What now, Joe?" he asked.

"All clear," said Joe, coming inboard.

"What! Done it already?"

"Ay; steam ahead when you like, sir."

The order was given at once. The assistant engineer put on full steam,
and the gun-boat, crashing through the remaining obstruction, floated
into the comparatively clear water beyond. The screw had been again
partially fouled, of course, but ten minutes more of our diver's knife
and axe set it free, and the vessel proceeded on her way.

Scouts from the pirate-camp had been watching the gun-boat, for they had
counted on nothing worse than an attack by boats, which, strong in
numbers, they could easily have repelled. Great therefore was the
consternation when these scouts ran in and reported that the vessel had
cleared the obstructions by some miraculous power which they could not
explain or understand, and was now advancing on them under full steam.

While the operations we have described were being carried out on board
the gun-boat, in the pirate village poor Mr Hazlit was seated on a
stump outside a rude hut made chiefly of bamboos and palm leaves. He
wore only his trousers and shirt, both sadly torn--one of the pirates
having taken a fancy to his coat and vest, the former of which he wore
round his loins with his legs thrust through the sleeves. The captive
merchant sat with his face buried in his hands and bowed on his knees.

Inside the hut sat Aileen with poor Miss Pritty resting on her bosom.
Miss Pritty was of a tender confiding nature, and felt it absolutely
necessary to rest on somebody's bosom. She would rather have used a
cat's or dog's than none. Aileen, being affectionate and sympathetic,
had no objection. Nevertheless, not being altogether of angelic
extraction, she was a little put out by the constant tremors of her
friend.

"Come, dear, don't shudder so fearfully," she said, in a half coaxing
half remonstrative tone.

"Is he gone?" asked Miss Pritty in a feeble voice, with her eyes tight
shut.

She referred to a half-naked warrior who had entered the hut, had half
shut his great eyes, and had displayed a huge cavern of red gum and
white teeth in an irresistible smile at the woe-begone aspect of Miss
Pritty. He had then silently taken his departure.

"Gone," repeated Aileen, rather sharply; "of course he is, and if he
were not, what then? Sure his being dark and rather lightly clothed is
not calculated to shock you so much."