were
placed. The broadside guns were ranged in line along the centre of the
terrace.

"Now," the captain said when, at the end of the second day, the
preparations were completed by the transport of a quantity of
ammunition from the ship's magazine to the terrace, "I feel
comfortable. We can defend ourselves here against all the pirates of
the South Seas. If they don't come, we shall only have lost our two
days' work, and shall have easy minds for the remainder of our stay
here; which we should not have had, if we had been at the mercy of the
first of those scoundrels who happened to hear of our being laid up."

The next morning the work of unloading the ship began, the bales and
packages being lowered from the ship, as they were brought up from the
hold, into boats alongside; and then taken to the shore, and piled
there at the foot of the slope. This occupied three days, and at the
end of that time the greater portion of the cargo had been removed.
The ship, now several feet lighter in the water than before, was
brought broadside to shore until her keel touched the ground. Then the
remaining cargo was shifted, and by the additional aid of tackle and
purchases on shore fastened to her masts, she was heeled over until
her keel nearly reached the level of the water.

It was late one evening when this work was finished, and the following
morning the crew were to begin to scrape her bottom, and the
carpenters were to repair the leak, and the whole of the seams
underwater were to be corked and repitched. Hitherto all had remained
on board; but previous to the ship being heeled over, tents
constructed of the sails were erected on the terrace, beds and other
articles of necessity landed, and the passengers, troops, and crew
took up their temporary abode there.

Chapter 4: The Pirates Of The Pacific.

A regular watch was set, both on the plateau and on board ship.
Towards morning, one of the watch on board hailed the officer above:

"I have fancied, sir, for some time, that I heard noises. It seems to
me like the splash of a very large number of oars."

"I have heard nothing," the officer said; "but you might hear sounds
down there, coming along on the water, before I do. I will go down to
the water's edge, and listen."

He did so, and was at once convinced that the man's ears had not
deceived him. Although the night was perfectly still, and not a breath
of wind was stirring, he heard a low rustling sound, like t