l
finally he informed him that they were heading directly for the port
where all their hopes were now centered.

The wind fell slightly, but the pursuing boat steadily gained, and it
was impossible to see how our friends could escape a hand-to-hand
fight with the pirates, and there could be but one issue to such an
encounter.

The islanders were thoughtful enough to lower their immense sail, and
stand by until they could pick up their comrade struggling in the
water, actuated probably as much by curiosity to know the facts as by
humanity.

This gave our friends a show once more, and they drew away from their
pursuers; but, alas! not to an extent to leave them out of sight, and
until they could do so, they could not hope to accomplish anything.

Mr. Storms was not without a strong hope of seeing some friendly
sail, to which they could hasten for assistance, and he continually
searched the horizon, telling Inez to do the same.

Captain Fred did not expect anything of that nature, and, since the
glasses were in his hands, he kept them turned most of the time in the
direction of the double canoe, and called out his information and
orders to his mate at the helm.

Of course the distance was much less than a mile, or the proa would
scarcely have been discernible, but the moonlight was strong, such as
those who live in temperate zones can hardly realize, and the
illumination of the sea was wonderfully brilliant.

Both Fred and Storms, who had spent years in the South Seas, agreed
that they had never seen anything like it before, and, for all
purposes, it might as well have been broad day. The finest print could
have been read with ease, and the glasses leveled at the approaching
boat showed the crowds of swarthy pirates on board, all as eager as
wolves to come up with the craft, which they were gaining so steadily
upon.

And the fugitives knew well enough what the sequel would be. The rival
of Captain Fred would want no better excuse for cutting him and his
companions to pieces, and the wealth in their possession would be more
"loot" than the same parties could obtain in a dozen piratical
expeditions.

"But they shall never get a pennyworth of it!" said Abe Storms to
Fred.

The latter lowered his glass and looked inquiringly at him.

"When it becomes absolutely certain that they have got us, I shall
throw all the pearls overboard, so that they shall gain nothing more
than our lives."

"That's right; only," sa