and resolution.

John was also seized by the pirates, but he had overheard the words of
their captain that they would soon be left in quiet, and had already
commenced throwing off his woman's dress.

"Hillo! is the old girl going to strip? Bear a hand here, Mike,"
shouted Diego, to one of his comrades, "just make fast those
tow-lines, and haul up her rigging."

Mr. Williams, who immediately conceived the possible advantage it
might be to Julia to have even so inefficient a protector with her as
John, addressed him in a stern tone.

"What, will you desert your mistress?"

John stood in doubt, but he was a kind-hearted fellow, and loved Julia
better than he did any thing else in the world except himself; and
without further resistance or explanation, allowed himself to be
conveyed to the boat, though the big tears rolled down his cheeks, and
nothing even then would have prevented his avowing his original sex,
but a strong feeling of shame at the thought of leaving Julia.

For hours the pirate's jolly-boat passed backward and forward between
the two brigs; the sea had become too rough to allow the vessels to be
fastened together without injury to the light frame of the pirate
bark; and night had already set in before all the cargo which the
pirates desired had been removed from the merchantman; but it was at
length accomplished, and once more the pirates stood upon the deck of
their own brig.

In a few words their captain explained his plan of destruction to his
crew, which was willingly assented to, as it was sufficiently cruel
and vindictive. Three loud cheers burst from their lips, startling the
crew of the Betsey Allen with its wild cadence, and in another moment
the pirate-captain leaped into his boat, and followed by a number of
his crew, returned to the merchantman.

Still preserving his suavity of manner, he addressed Captain Horton as
he stepped upon the deck, after first ordering the crew to the bows,
and drawing up his own men with pointed muskets before the
companion-way.

"Captain Horton, as you are, perhaps, aware it is our policy to act
upon the old saying that 'dead men tell no tales,' and after
consultation among ourselves, we have concluded to set your vessel on
fire, and then depart in peace, leaving you to the quiet I promised
you."

"Blood-thirsty villain!" shouted the captain of the merchantman, and
suddenly drawing a pistol, he discharged it full at the pirate's
breast. The latter was