result of accident, or the deliberate act
of her desperate and reckless commander, it was of course impossible to
ascertain; very probably it was the latter; but, whatever the cause of
it, the pirate schooner was no more; a few rent and blackened timbers,
with here and there the mangled remains of what had a few minutes before
been a human being, floating on the surface of the heaving waters, was
all that remained of her and her crew. George Leicester's grim deed of
retribution was complete.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

SURPRISED.

"A Terrible ending to a sin-stained career," murmured the skipper of the
_Aurora_ with white set lips, when the first shock of surprise and
consternation had passed away sufficiently to allow him to speak. "Up
with your helm, my man," he continued to the seaman at the wheel; "up
with your helm, and keep her away upon a west and by south course; we'll
get away from this accursed spot as soon as possible. Man the braces,
fore and aft, if you please, Mr Ritson, square the yards, secure the
long-gun, and then let all hands make sail."

Then, going to the companion, he passed the word below for Mr Bowen to
close the magazine and come on deck.

Five minutes later the chief mate emerged from the companion, and,
walking up to George, observed--

"Well, sir, you've managed to make a pretty effectual end of the
buccaneer, I see."

"Yes," answered George gravely. "The schooner struck; but we are much
too short-handed to take and retain possession of such a craft as that,
so, as I did not feel justified in leaving them at liberty to resume
their nefarious business, I continued to fire into the schooner,
intending to sink her; and I am of opinion that her captain, recognising
the fact that escape was hopeless, blew her up with his own hand, hoping
to involve us in the destruction also. It was a terrible thing, Mr
Bowen, to cause the loss of so many lives, but I am convinced that I
only did my duty. And now, as there seems to be no immediate prospect
of our falling in with the fleet again, I propose to take full advantage
of this fine fair wind, and proceed upon my voyage; so please pack on
the ship everything that will draw; then let the men clear up the decks,
and knock off work; they have had two very fatiguing days, and have
fought well; let them get all the rest they possibly can between this
and to-morrow morning."

When the sun set that evening, the _Aurora_ was flying to the southward