I took the trumpet in my hand, and as she dashed past, I hailed, "The
brig astern is a pirate; cut adrift and rejoin your ship as soon as
possible."

The boat-steerer waved his hand, but they made no attempt to free
themselves from the whale, and I feared they had not clearly understood
me; though I saw the men turning to each other as though comparing notes
on the communication I had made, and the boat-steerer shaded his eyes
with his hand as he took a hasty look at the rapidly approaching brig.

The two other boats, meanwhile, were pulling away to the southward in
pursuit of a couple of gigantic whales which had separated from the rest
of the herd, and which, from the pace at which they were travelling,
seemed likely to lead their pursuers a pretty dance. It was quite out
of our power to convey any warning to those, and I was most reluctantly
compelled to stand on upon our original course, or dead to leeward.

Presently the whale which was struck turned sharp round, and came
tearing back over the ground he had just traversed. I felt more than
half inclined to take as broad a sheer as I dared out of his way; I did
not at all like the look of him as he came foaming down towards us.

But the desire to repeat my warning was stronger even than my fear of
the whale; and, watching him narrowly as he came up, I directed Bob how
to steer, and the instant he was past us, Bob eased down the helm, and
we sheered towards the boat he had in tow.

I stood by with the trumpet as before, but it was unnecessary, for as
they came alongside, the boat-steerer sheered our way, whilst the crew
rapidly paid out line, by which means the whale-boat's speed was so
reduced that we had time to communicate before she passed ahead.

"Cutter ahoy!" hailed the boat-steerer as we rushed along within twenty
feet of each other; "what was that you said just now?"

"The brig astern of us is a pirate," I replied; "she fired upon us
yesterday at mid-day, and has been in chase ever since. I would advise
you to rejoin your ship before she comes up if possible. Your skipper
will need all his hands on board if she ranges alongside."

"The devil!" ejaculated he in reply. "You don't seem hit anywhere,"
glancing aloft at our taper spars and snowy canvas, which showed no
wounds or shot-holes to vouch for the truth of my statement.

"No," answered I; "he only had time to fire five shots at us before we
slipped past him to windward, and we escaped unt