, a hearty cheer rose from the direction of the beach, and some
thirty men or more from the two ships, armed with pikes, cutlasses, and
muskets, came tramping up, again cheering lustily. We all fired just
before they joined us. The pirates did not stop to encounter them, but
scampered off as fast as their legs could carry them, several throwing
down their weapons the more quickly to escape. Captain Hake, who led
the party just landed, followed with most of the men for some distance,
but no one could move rapidly over the rough ground, and the pirates,
favoured by the darkness, and better acquainted with the country than we
were, effected their escape. Though there was very little chance of
their again molesting us, watch was kept during the night. Captain Hake
said that on hearing the firing, suspecting that we were attacked,
though by whom he could not conjecture, he had lowered his own boats,
and summoned Captain Bland's crew to our assistance. The next morning a
party set off to try and capture our assailants, but they had managed to
reach their schooner, which was seen standing out to sea. Though no
dead bodies were found, marks of blood seen on the rocks showed that
several had been wounded.

Mary was unwilling to make any more distant excursions, but she and her
mother continued to reside on the island till the "Lady Alice" was ready
for sea. Now came the moment of trial. Captain Hake had been specially
civil whenever he met me in company with Captain Bland, and I began to
hope that he would allow me to join the "Lady Alice." My old friend at
length once more pressed the point. Captain Hake at once assumed the
stern manner he knew well how to put on.

"I mustn't let the lad think too much of himself; but it's just this,
Captain Bland, you want him and so do I, and as I have a right to him I
intend to keep him. He rejoins the `Eagle' this evening."

Captain Bland could not complain. He had received great assistance from
Captain Hake, who lent him Pepper and Salt and two Sandwich islanders,
with which addition to his crew, now that the rest were well, he was
able to continue his fishing. Mary, however, was very indignant with
Captain Hake, and went so far as to call him a hard-hearted, cruel man,
who wanted me to do all his drudgery, instead of allowing me to act as
an officer with her father.

The next morning we sailed, and for some time kept company. I was glad
to see the "Lady Alice" shortly af