five minutes ago, but I was just afraid to
speak; but when you axed me, sir, then I knowed it was all right."

"The _Cerberus_!" cried the rest of the party in the same breath.

"Ay, she's the fine old girl, no doubt about it," exclaimed O'Grady.
"Three cheers for the _Cerberus_! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"

All the party joined heartily in the shout. It was echoed from a
distance, and old Charcoal was seen scrambling along on his crutches
towards them. They congratulated him by signs at having escaped the
fate which his cruel taskmasters had intended for him, and he seemed no
less pleased than they were at the appearance of the English frigate.
Their attention was, however, soon fully engrossed by the chase. The
frigate had caught sight of the schooner, and was now crowding on all
sail to overtake her. The latter was keeping as close in with the shore
as the reefs would allow, with the intention, probably, of rounding the
island and putting it between herself and her enemy. She, however, by
keeping so close in, lost the sea breeze, which the frigate, keeping
from necessity further out, retained. The pirates thus lost the
advantage which the knowledge of the shore would have given them. Their
craft was a fast one, but there was no faster frigate on the station
than the _Cerberus_. She seemed putting forth all her speed, and it was
soon evident that she was gaining rapidly on the chase. The wind, it
must be understood, was off the land, along the south coast of which the
vessels were standing towards the east. It was necessary, therefore,
for the schooner, in order to get on the north side, either to stand a
long way to the east, or else to make short tacks, so as to weather the
eastern end of the island. The temptation to watch her proceedings was
very great, and though the way round was long, and over soft sand in
places, the party set off in that direction as fast as they could run.
By the time they had reached a slight elevation, whence they could watch
the further progress of the chase, the frigate had gained so greatly on
the schooner, that the latter would, in a few minutes, be within range
of her guns. The pirates must have seen that they had now little chance
of escaping, but they would not give in.

"Hurra! There goes her first shot," cried O'Grady, as a puff of smoke
and a flash was seen to proceed from the frigate's side, followed by a
report, as the iron missile went leaping over the water, but