d Captain O'Brien, who had been looking through the cabin
window. "Depend on it, she has kept us in sight, and when she finds
that we are still within reach, and not able to get away, she'll be
sending her boats in to take us during the night. I heartily hope that
she may, and we shall run much less risk of injury than we should have
done had she attacked the _Ouzel Galley_ with her heavy guns. I believe
that the pirate's threat of blowing up the ship was all bombast. These
fellows, hardened villains as they are, are seldom in a hurry to go out
of the world, if they can by any means prolong their miserable
existence. Each man fancies that he may have a chance of escaping by
turning king's evidence or getting out of prison. I doubt whether even
O'Harrall himself would have the nerve to set fire to the magazine,
though his capture were certain."

The darkness was now settling down on the water, and at length shrouded
the stranger from view.

The pirates had evidently not been idle, and the old captains surmised
that they were engaged in tricing up boarding-nettings and making all
the usual preparations in case of being attacked during the night by the
boats of the frigate, which they must of course have expected.

The sound of a boat lowered into the water reached the cabin, and the
next minute she was seen through the stern window pulling in the
direction of the frigate, probably to row guard and to give due notice
should the man-of-war's boats be heard approaching: Although, during the
last two nights, the inmates of the cabin had obtained but a few minutes
of sleep at a time, their anxiety prevented them from closing their
eyes. Even Norah, though her father urged her to try and obtain some
rest, could scarcely bring herself to shut hers for a moment. They
listened eagerly, expecting every minute to hear the pirate's boat
return, followed by those of the man-of-war.

Several hours passed away, when Captain O'Brien, who had been watching
at the stern window, exclaimed, "Here she comes!" and the next moment
the boat dashed up alongside.

The ship had not been brought to an anchor, showing that the pirate
entertained a hope of avoiding a fight and making his escape, should the
breeze spring up before the boats could get alongside. The night was
dark, and from the lighted cabin it was impossible to see objects at any
distance. Captain O'Brien, however, listened, expecting to hear the
boats approach. Present