In the boat which finally captured him was the Singapore man already
mentioned. This man, for reasons best known to himself, had a bitter
hatred of Pungarin, and was the chief cause of the boat in which he
pulled an oar being kept in close pursuit of the pirate-chief.

"Dis way," he cried, when the general _melee_ was drawing to a close.
"Yonder is de red-coat. He make for de shore."

The steersman at once turned in the direction indicated, which brought
them close to the gun-boat.

Pungarin's keen eye quickly observed that they were making towards him,
although the water around him swarmed with other men. He at once dived
and came up close to the side of the vessel, under its quarter, and in
dangerous proximity to its screw. The boldness of the course might have
diverted attention from him for a time, but his one touch of vanity--the
red jacket--betrayed him. He was soon observed. A cry was given. His
sharp-eyed enemy the Singapore man saw him, and the boat was once more
pulled towards its mark. But Pungarin dived like an otter--not only
under the boat, but under the steamer also; coming up on the other side,
and resting while they sought for him. Again they discovered him.
Again he passed under the ship's bottom, and this time continued his
dive onwards towards the shore. When his power of remaining under water
failed, he came gently to the surface, turning on his back, so that only
his mouth and nose appeared.

One full breath sufficed, and he dived again without having been
observed. If Pungarin had adopted this plan while the boats were busy
capturing his comrades, it is possible that he might have escaped, for
his swimming powers and endurance were very great; but it was now too
late. When he rose the second time to the surface, the affair was over,
and men's minds were free to fix entirely on himself. Just then, too,
he thought it advisable to put his head fully out of the water in order
to see that he had kept in the right direction.

He was instantly observed by his Singapore enemy, and the chase was
resumed.

It is almost unnecessary to say that it terminated unfavourably for the
pirate-chief. For several minutes he continued to dive under the boat
while they tried to seize him, and wounded some of the men nearest to
him; but his Herculean powers began at last to fail, and he finally
floated on the surface as if helpless.

Even this was a ruse, for no sooner was the boat near enough, and