them. They
would not be back until the morrow, when Sir John had orders to get away
in pursuit of Hornigold's pinnace. With the captain in the cabin,
however, was the old master of the ship, a man who had been promoted to
that rank after the famous fight with the Algerines because of his
gallantry in that action. Kempthorne was consulting with him about the
necessary arrangements before sailing the next day.

As the admiral heard the noise made by the oars in the oarlocks he
raised his voice, and calling a sentry, for there was half a platoon of
soldiers on board who had not yet been allowed liberty (the beginnings
of the Royal Marine of England, by the way), he bade him ascertain if
the approaching boat was that containing the Governor. It was still
early evening, and Lord Carlingford had announced his intention of
sleeping in the ship, for the weather was intensely warm and he thought
it might be cooler in the harbor than in the crowded low-lying town of
Port Royal.

At the same time the admiral arose, buckled on his sword, and made ready
to go on deck to meet Lord Carlingford, should it prove to be his
expected visitor. Pausing a moment to say a final word to the master, he
was conscious of something striking the ship. Before he could formulate
the idea that a boat must have been hit in the bends, there were several
similar shocks. The old master, who happened to be unarmed, stepped
forward.

"That will be a boat, sir," he said quickly, "striking against the side
of the ship. There's another, and another!"

His voice indicated surprise and some apprehension. What could it be?

"Let us go on deck at once," said Kempthorne, stepping forward. As he
did so the silence was broken by a wild, terrified cry. A moment after,
the sentry on the quarter-deck outside the entrance to the poop cabin
fired his piece. The shot was followed by the sound of a fierce blow,
and then a heavy fall. A sharp, imperious voice cried quickly:

"The ship is ours! Waste no time! Overboard with him! Clap to the hatch
covers!"

The necessity for concealment outside was apparently at an end. The
heavy covers were flung down upon the hatches and secured. The ship was
filled with a confused babel of many voices and trampling feet. At the
sound of the shot, the admiral and the master sprang to the door, but
before they could pass the entrance it was flung violently open, and a
man richly dressed after the fashion of Jamaica, followed by a tall,