make them fancy we are better armed than we are, and they may
not think it worth while to attempt capturing us."

They were at this time passing to the southward of the island before
mentioned. The breeze freshened, and the _Janet_ made better way than
she had hitherto been doing. However, the pirates had already got
almost within musket-shot, but Lord Reginald was unwilling to throw a
charge away. At length, turning round and seeing that the leading
pirate was within range, he fired. He quickly took up the next musket,
and as he did so, he called to Dick to come aft and reload them. By the
time the third musket was fired, Dick had loaded the first. A dozen
shots had been fired, though it was difficult to ascertain the effect
produced. By this time the _Janet_ had opened out the west end of the
island, when Dick, looking up, just as he was handing a musket to Lord
Reginald, exclaimed--

"A sail, a sail! and a man-of-war, too, standing down towards us, under
every stitch of canvas she can carry."

"She'll be up to us in twenty minutes more, and all we need do is to
keep ahead of our pursuers," answered Lord Reginald, taking a glance at
her, before firing the musket he had received from Dick. That glance,
however, was sufficient to convince him that she was the _Wolf_.

He was again about to fire, when the pirate craft were seen in a state
of confusion, putting about. As fast as they could, lowering their
sails and getting out their oars, they pulled away for their lives in
the wind's eye. They had an advantage by keeping closer in shore than
the frigate could venture; besides which, the wind was light, and thus
gave them a better chance of escape. They had, however, been seen from
the frigate, which stood on after them, and at first appeared as if
about to pass the _Janet_. In a few minutes, however, the British
ensign was seen flying from the lugger's mainyard; at the same time it
was perceived that the frigate would have little chance of overtaking
the pirate proas.

Lord Reginald stood up and waved his hat, while all hands shouted at the
top of their voices.

"They've made us out. She's about to heave to, sir. Hurrah! hurrah!"
shouted Dick.

The frigate, coming up with the wind, hove her maintop-sail aback. The
lugger stood on for a short time, then hauling her wind, ran up under
the _Wolf's_ lee.

"What craft is that?" asked a voice from the frigate's gangway.

"The private yacht _Janet_, bo