had taken the ship. Next
moment the ruffians rushed down upon us, took away any valuables we had
about our persons, and then tied us up and threw us on the sofas. After
scouring all the cabins they left us, and by the noise that followed we
guessed that they had removed the hatches and were getting up the cargo.

"This continued all night, and some time this morning we heard the brutes
going down to their boats, and thanked God that they had spared our lives.
Presently all became still; but after a time we saw the water rising on
the floor, and the dreadful thought struck us that they had scuttled the
ship and left us to perish. One of us managed, in spite of his bonds, to
make his way up the companion and endeavour to open the door. He found,
however, to his horror that it was fastened outside. Time after time he
flung himself against it, but it would not yield. The water rose higher
and higher, and we were waiting for the end when, to our delight, we heard
a bump as of a boat coming alongside the vessel, then the sound of someone
running along the deck and of the companion door being hurriedly opened.
You know the rest. The ship was the _Northumberland_ of Bristol."

"Thank God we arrived in time!" Will said. "It was an affair of seconds.
If we had been two minutes later you would all have been drowned."

"What has become of that terrible pirate?" asked one of the passengers.

"There he is, six miles away. I hope some day to avenge the murder of your
captain and crew."

"But his ship looks a good deal larger than yours."

"Yes," Will said, "but we don't take much account of size. We captured two
pirates in one fight, both of them bigger than ourselves."

"And your ship looks such a small thing, too, in comparison with our
vessel!"

"Yes, your ship could pretty well take her up and carry her. Weight
doesn't go for much in fighting."

"And are you really her commander?"

"I have that honour. I am a midshipman, and before I got command of
_L'Agile_ I was on board His Majesty's ships _Furious_ and _Hawke_. I had
a great deal of luck in several fights we came through, and as a result
was entrusted by the admiral with the command of this vessel. As you say,
she is small, but her guns are heavy for her size, and are more than a
match for most of those carried by the pirates."

"Well, sir, in the name of myself and all my fellow-passengers I offer you
my sincerest thanks for the manner in which you saved our lives.