d spoke a few
words to the pirate captain, who instantly issued orders to the crew to
make all sail.

Royals were set, and even lighter sails above them. The studding-sails
were rigged out, and various strange-shaped sails were set between the
masts and above and below the bowsprit. The studding-sails, however,
were quickly taken in again, as the wind was too much abeam to enable
them to be carried.

Captain Tracy managed, whenever the pirate's glance was turned the other
way, to take a look over the quarter, and soon had the satisfaction of
seeing the lofty sails of a large ship appearing above the horizon. It
was pretty evident that the stranger was suspicious of the character of
the _Ouzel Galley_, and was coming in chase of her.

O'Harrall and his crew seemed to be of the same opinion. They turned
many an angry glance towards the old captains and Norah, as if they
considered them the cause of the risk they were running of being
captured. Though the _Ouzel Galley_ was a fast vessel, the stranger was
evidently much faster.

"What do you think she is, O'Brien?" asked Captain Tracy.

"A frigate or a large sloop of war; and though it is a difficult matter
to judge of her nationality, she looks more like an English ship than a
foreigner," he answered.

"Grant Heaven it may be so, and that the pirates may see the uselessness
of fighting, should she come up with us," said Captain Tracy.

"They are not likely to give in without a desperate struggle, when they
know that halters are in store for most of them if they are captured,"
replied Captain O'Brien.

O'Harrall was pacing the deck with hurried strides. He could only
depend on the speed of his ship for escaping, and he well knew that no
British man-of-war would engage him without doing her utmost to make him
her prize. Suddenly he walked up to his prisoners, his countenance
exhibiting a more ferocious aspect than they had hitherto seen it wear.

"You must go below," he said in a harsh tone; "your presence has brought
us ill luck. At all events, my people think so, and I don't know how
they may behave, should they see you on deck when yonder ship gets up to
us."

"We will of course obey you," said Captain Tracy, taking Norah's hand;
and, followed by Captain O'Brien, they descended to the cabin.

The latter would gladly have remained to watch the progress of the
stranger, which he was more than ever convinced was a man-of-war. Some
hours must, however