the landmarks well, or came
upon it by chance, and they will not thank me for leading you to it. I
must trust, sir, to your not only sparing my life, but protecting me
afterwards, for if I fall into their hands they will murder me to a
certainty."

These remarks were addressed to Mr Tarwig, to whom the pirate seemed
more inclined to be communicative than to any one else.

"What makes you so ready to deliver your late companions into our
hands?" asked the first lieutenant. "I thought that buccaneers were
always faithful to each other, although at war with the rest of the
world."

"In the first place, sir, I wish to save my life--that would be
sufficient reason for what I have undertaken," answered the pirate;
"and, then," he added, a dark scowl coming over his countenance, "I have
sworn vengeance against those who have offended me. I had a quarrel
with the captain, whom, though I am his equal, I was ready to serve. He
treated me with contempt, and refused to trust me. However, it is a
long story, and I will not trouble you with it now. What I say will
convince you that I intend to be faithful, and that it will not be my
fault if you fail to capture the pirate and his followers."

"And who is this buccaneering captain of whom we have heard so much of
late years?" asked Mr Tarwig.

"He goes under different names, sir; and, although I may happen to know
his right one, you will excuse me if I decline to tell it," answered
Dillon, the dark frown still resting on his brow as he spoke.--"His
present followers know him as Manuel Bermudez; but he has not a drop of
Spanish blood in his veins, I can answer for that."

What Dillon said convinced Mr Tarwig that he could be trusted in
carrying out their project. It was arranged that on approaching Tiger
harbour he should appear to have the command of the ship, and that only
as many men as had been left on board by the pirates should be seen on
deck, all of them dressed as the pirate crew had been, and that the
remainder should lie down concealed under the bulwarks, or remain below
ready to spring up at a moment's notice. Commander Olding intended, on
entering the harbour, to run up alongside the _Ouzel Galley_ and capture
her, and then to turn his guns on the people on shore should any
resistance be offered. Dillon assured him that no forts existed on
shore for the defence of the harbour, the pirates trusting entirely to
the intricacy of its navigation.

The _Researc