least aroused.

Then there gradually arose an eager whispering among them; suspicious
glances were turned first upon Dickinson's party and then toward the
buildings; and upon the noise of shots being heard they all set out at a
run in the direction of the sound, fully persuaded that affairs had
somehow fallen out of joint with them, and that it was quite time for
them to be stirring.

They had run about half the distance between the boats and the capstan-
house when someone caught a glimpse of three flying figures indistinctly
made out through the gloom. The alarm was instantly given, and in
another moment the entire crowd had turned sharply off in pursuit.

It now became a neck-and-neck race between the two parties as to which
should reach the boats first. The pirates were poor runners, not being
much accustomed to that kind of exercise; but so unfortunately were two
out of the three fugitives of whom they were in chase. Bob was fleet as
a deer for a short distance, but he was far too loyal to leave his two
friends; and they, poor fellows, weak and cramped as they were with
their recent confinement, already began to feel their limbs dragging
heavy as lead over the ground. The pirates gained upon them rapidly.

Presently one of the pursuers was so near that they could hear him
panting heavily behind.

"You keep steadily on," murmured Bob, as he pushed in for a moment
between his two companions; "I'll stop this fellow."

Then, allowing the skipper to pass ahead of him, he sprang suddenly
aside, and, grasping one of his pistols by the barrel, brought down the
butt of the weapon heavily upon the pirate's head as he rushed past.
The fellow staggered a pace or two further and then fell heavily to the
ground, where he lay face downwards and partially stunned until his
comrades came to his assistance. As, fortunately, they all stopped and
gathered round the man, raising him to his feet and eagerly questioning
him, the diversion thus created gave the three fugitives time to reach
the boats without further molestation.

Here they were, of course, received with open arms; but before their
greetings were half exchanged the armed guard had turned to the boats,
and, exerting their whole strength, shot them out upon the glassy waters
of the bay, springing in themselves at the same moment and taking to
their oars without an instant's delay.

As soon as the boats' heads were turned round and fairly pointed away
from the