Dom Maxara
went below, while Hughes and the missionary looked gloomily over the
ocean.

"My lads," said the captain, "yonder schooner is a pirate. For months
her people have plundered and massacred inoffensive ships and their
crews. They are the same Malays we met in Saint Augustine's Bay, and we
purged the old barky's deck of the rapscallions. We have lost five of
ours, but their death was avenged. Yonder blackguard comes with murder
and piracy in his hold. He has a full cargo of both, but so long as
Andrew Weber lives, this brig shall never be his. We will fight to the
last man, and that last man, mark me my lads well, that last man, or
boy, no matter which, fires the powder in the magazine!"

A loud cheer burst from the crew.

"And now, my lads, to your arms! Mr Lowe, in with the studding-sails,
take a pull at the lee sheets and braces, starboard you may, bring her
head west-south-west!"

The wind at last was freshening, the sea was calm, and the "Halcyon" was
making some four knots an hour; but the very smoothness of the ocean was
against her, for her breadth of beam, rounded sides, and greater tonnage
would have told in her favour hod the waves been rough; the schooner
naturally labouring more in such a case.

As it was, everything favoured the latter, save that over the land hung
a heavy cloud, which had been growing denser and denser. Its edges were
ragged, and the captain often looked towards that quarter, conscious
that in it lay his only hope.

The two vessels were now rapidly approaching each other, the black hull
of the schooner becoming every moment more and more distinctly visible.

"Show our colours," said the captain, and the Union Jack streamed out
from the peak halyards.

"She makes no reply," remarked the mate. "The bloody-minded villains
have no flag to fight under."

"Look here, Mr Lowe," said the captain, "that craft is in no hurry; she
is handing her fore-topsail again, and there goes her flag!"

"Fiery red, by George!--nothing less than blood will satisfy them."

Half an hour would bring the two vessels within hailing distance, and
Captain Weber made all his dispositions. The arm-chest which had been
sent below had been again hoisted up on deck, and placed under the
charge of Captain Hughes.

The two nine-pounders were heavily loaded, and the men had breakfasted.

"Mr Lowe, I intend, if yonder villain will allow me, to pass under his
stern, giving him the contents of o