lack of
discipline or order amongst the expedition filled both Mr. Paterson and
Mr. Sutherland with fears as to the result.

In addition to small-arms, the _Bonnie Scotland_ carried eight
carronades which had been neglected during the voyage, but were now
hastily got in order and double-shotted under the direction of Mr.
Paterson, who seemed to know how everything should be done.

Meanwhile the buccaneer was steadily coming on, and evidently
manoeuvring to approach astern so as to prevent the _Bonnie Scotland_
using her broadside.

But the veteran captain saw through the trick, and at once changed his
vessel's course, saying with a sardonic smile--

"Red Angus is no sae simple as ye think. He kens your wicked wile, and
just how to fool ye."

Mr. Paterson, disgusted as he had been by the brutality of the captain
during the voyage, could not help now admiring the consummate skill
with which he handled his clumsy craft, for the _Bonnie Scotland_ was
far from being what she ought to have been.

He seemed to be able to divine every movement of the buccaneer, and to
meet it by a counter-movement which prevented the latter obtaining the
advantage sought. Thus the two vessels dodged about among the
white-caps, for a strong breeze was blowing, until at last the
buccaneer apparently gave up all strategy, and bore directly down upon
the _Bonnie Scotland_ at the risk of a broadside.

"Now then, gunners, be ready to fire when I give you the word," was Mr.
Paterson's command, and, matches in hand, the men he had selected for
the duty stood beside the carronades, waiting his word. He did not
speak until the buccaneer was not more than a hundred yards distant,
and then the captain, by a sudden turn of his wheel, throwing the
_Bonnie Scotland_ around so that she presented her beam to the
advancing vessel, Mr. Paterson shouted--

"All together! Fire!"

The three carronades roared as one, and their iron missiles went
hurtling into the rigging of the buccaneer and along her crowded decks,
bringing a lot of the rigging down by the run, injuring the foremast so
that it showed signs of tottering, and killing and wounding a number of
the scoundrels, who were evidently not expecting so heavy a broadside.
Certainly the immediate effect of the discharge was most encouraging,
and Donalblane clapped his hands gleefully as the damaged vessel fell
off, while the _Bonnie Scotland_ kept on her course.

"They got it then, didn't they?"