p breath, and, I thought, seemed more composed.

The people from the boat now came up the side, and she was hoisted up.
She was in a very battered condition, and had evidently been lately
repaired in a hurried manner.

They were received at the capstern by Captain Poynder. An honest,
sturdy-looking gentleman stepped forward as spokesman.

"I see that I am fortunate enough to have got on board a British
man-of-war," he began. "Well, sir, I have a pretty account of piracy
and attempted wholesale murder to give."

"Let me hear it at once, sir, that I may judge what is to be done," said
Captain Poynder.

"Yes, sir, certainly. My name is Hudson, sir. You must know that I am,
or rather was, master of the _Helen_ brig. We sailed from Liverpool,
where we took in a valuable cargo of manufactured goods, chiefly silks
and fine cottons. We were bound for Leghorn. While we were taking in
our cargo, there lay alongside of us a fine new brig, the _William_,
owned by some very respectable merchants of our port. Her master was a
certain Captain Delano, a very well-spoken, fine-looking man. I cannot
say that I ever liked him. There was something in his eye, and way of
talking, which made me doubt him. Not but that he said many things that
were very good and right, but there was nothing hearty in them; and now
and then he let out opinions which made me sure he was a bad man,
notwithstanding the way he had managed to come over his owners. There
were several suspicious things which I had heard of him from time to
time. He was an American, hailing from New York; yet he fought very shy
of all masters coming from thence, and had refused, on some excuse or
other, to take charge of a vessel going there. He, two years ago, had
command of a barque, the _Brunswick_, trading up the Straits. Some
queer things were said to have taken place in her; and I'm very much
mistaken if the black flag did not fly aboard her more than once. At
last this Mr Delano was caught attempting to carry out a large
smuggling transaction in Malta harbour, as, perhaps, you may have heard,
sir, when you have been there. He was convicted, and thrown into
prison. After having been shut up for a year, he was liberated, ruined
in character, and without a penny in his pocket. Any other man, almost,
would never again have been able to lift up his head; but his tongue
served him in good stead, and finding his way to Liverpool, he had the
impudence to present