terest so intense, that he almost forgot his
painful wounds.

He had hardly taken his position before the captain of the Raker
uncovered and ran out his long gun, and to the surprise of all on
board the pirate, a huge shot, evidently sent from a gun much larger
than they had supposed their antagonist to possess, came crashing
through their main-sail.

Too late the pirates perceived the error into which they had fallen;
and were aware of the immense advantage which the long gun gave their
opponent, enabling him, in fact, to maintain his own position beyond
the reach of their fire, and at the same time cut every mast and spar
on board the pirate-brig to pieces, unless, indeed, the latter might
be fortunate enough, by superior sailing, to get beyond the reach of
shot without suffering material injury.

Perceiving this to be his only resource, orders were given on board
the pirate again to 'bout ship, and instead of pursuing to be
themselves in turn fugitives. But they were not destined to escape
without injury. Another shot from the Raker bore away their
foretop-sail, and sensibly checked their speed. To remedy this
misfortune, studding-sails were set below and aloft, and for a long
time the chase was continued without the shot from the Raker taking
serious effect on the pirate; and, indeed, the latter in a
considerable degree increased the distance between the two vessels.
But while the captain and crew of the Raker were confident of
eventually overtaking their antagonist, the men in the pirate-brig had
already become convinced that in such a harassing and one-sided mode
of warfare, they stood no chance whatever, and demanded of their
captain that he should make the attempt to close with the Raker and
board. This he sternly refused, and pointed out to his men the folly
of such a course, as upon a nearer approach to the privateer, his
rigging and masts must necessarily suffer in such a manner as to place
his brig entirely at the command of the Raker. His men admitted the
truth of his reasoning, but at the same time evinced so much
dissatisfaction at their present vexatious situation, that their
captain plainly perceived it was necessary to pursue some course of
action to appease their turbulent spirits.

With a clouded brow he returned to his cabin with the assistance of
Florette, who had watched with a woman's love to take advantage of
every opportunity to aid him.

Reaching the cabin, his eyes fell upon the form o