sure, sir, of that," said Tom. "Perhaps the skipper
will think that towards morning we shall not be keeping so bright a
look-out, and may try to steal alongside to surprise us; but he'll find
himself mistaken."

As I was very sleepy I went below and lay down, but heard old Tom say
that he should remain on deck till daylight. Next morning Harry told me
that the boats had appeared, but being hailed to keep off, they had not
come nearer, and that he had not thought it necessary to call up all
hands as he had done before. Being in the neighbourhood of a pirate, as
she was nothing else, was very disagreeable, to say the least of it.
Indeed, she in a manner blockaded us, for we could not venture to tow
the schooner out to sea lest her boats might attack us in some critical
position. Still Harry determined that should we get a leading breeze to
sail past her, taking the opportunity of doing so while her boats were
away. We saw them passing to the eastward, apparently going to compel
the natives to dive for oysters. The calm continued the greater part of
that day; but although towards the evening a breeze sprang up, it was
too light and not sufficiently favourable to enable us to run out of the
harbour. We therefore had to pass another anxious night.

The ladies were not by this time entirely ignorant of what had occurred,
but Harry made as light of it as possible; saying that the fellows would
not really venture to annoy us, however willing they might be to get
possession of our pearls if they could do so without fighting. The
third night began; about the middle of the first watch the breeze
increased so much, that Harry, who had come on deck, consulted with Tom
whether we should get the schooner under weigh, and run past the
brigantine in the dark.

"If there was a lighthouse at the end of the reef, and we had a pilot
aboard, I would not mind trying it, sir," said Tom. "But you see it
would be an awkward job if we were to run ashore; besides, it's just
possible that the _Wasp's_ boats may be on the look-out for us, and hope
to catch us napping this time, though they were wrong before."

Harry said he felt pretty sure of the channel, but the last objection
was of more importance, and he determined therefore to wait till
daylight. It was settled, accordingly, that as soon as the _Wasp's_
boats were seen going in the direction of the oyster-beds, we were to
heave up the anchor, and make sail. At the same time, as