"Say what you like, and I'll agree to it," answered Captain Tracy.

"We will give in if we have your word that we and all the survivors on
board will be protected from further injury or insult. We have a lady
passenger, and I plead especially on her account. Will you promise that
she is in no way injured or molested?" said Captain O'Brien.

"If you will take the word of a man who fights under yonder dark flag,
you have it," answered the pirate.

"We yield, then," said Captain O'Brien, dropping his sword.

Captain Tracy did the same, though both felt very uncertain whether the
next instant they might not be slaughtered by the savage miscreants, who
had now entire possession of the deck of the _Research_.

"Go below, my friend, before the pirates find their way there. Tell
Norah what has happened, and urge her to prepare for what may occur,"
whispered Captain Tracy. "I will try, meantime, to engage the attention
of the pirate."

The latter made no remark when he saw the old captain disappearing down
the hatchway.

"We have met before, Captain Tracy," he said. "I owe my life to the
good services rendered me on board your ship, and I should be loth to
have your death on my conscience. I have enough on it already. I know
your friend, too; he is one of the few people to whom I have cause to be
grateful."

"If you are the man I take you for," said Captain Tracy, intently
regarding the pirate, "you owed a heavier debt to the master of the ship
which I now find in your possession. You know how I regarded him, and
you will relieve my mind if you can tell me where he is to be found."

"You will probably meet in a few days," answered the pirate. "He is
well in health, though I considered it necessary to keep him a prisoner.
You and Captain O'Brien will now have the opportunity of solacing him
in his confinement."

"I thank you for the information," answered Captain Tracy. "We shall be
ready to share his lot, whatever that may be."

The pirates, though they had obtained possession of the deck, had
hitherto not made their way below; for they were all fully engaged, some
in the barbarous work of putting the wounded out of their misery and
heaving the dead overboard, and others in clearing the two ships. The
wind had suddenly increased, and, as they had a dangerous reef aboard,
it was necessary as quickly as possible to get them under command.
Captain O'Brien had thus time to make his way into the hold and to bre