a
broad-brimmed straw hat, his body clad in a red and yellow striped
worsted shirt, confined at the waist by a cutlass-belt, into which a
long-barrelled pistol was thrust, and his legs encased in sea-boots
reaching nearly to the thigh, was a particularly truculent-looking
ruffian; and a powerful negro, somewhat similarly clad, who seemed to be
his chief _aide_, was little if anything better.

That they were pirates there could be no possible doubt, and poor George
Leicester expected nothing less than that he and his ship's company
would all have their throats cut, and then be unceremoniously pitched
overboard, to keep poor Ritson company. It soon appeared, however, that
his career was not to be thus summarily brought to an end, for after a
few words between the leader and the negro, George and his crew were,
after their bonds had been looked to and made more secure, distributed
about the deck, and chained to the ring-bolts in the bulwarks and
elsewhere.

The _Aurora_, under the influence of a slightly freshening breeze, soon
joined company with the brig, from which a boat then put off, bringing
on board the barque a tall handsome man, whose features were, however,
spoiled by the expression of cunning and cruelty legibly imprinted on
them. He said a few words to the Spaniard in charge, glanced round the
deck at the helpless prisoners, made a jesting remark or two, at which
of course everybody dutifully laughed, gave George--who unfortunately
happened to be nearest him--a playful kick in the mouth with his heavy
boot, and then sauntered leisurely down into the cabin, where, from the
repeated loud bursts of laughter, and the singing which soon arose, a
carouse seemed to have been promptly entered upon.

The sky to the eastward was brightening with the approach of dawn, when
the revellers at last staggered once more on deck. Here the handsome
man--who seemed to be the chief of the pirate crew--paused for a moment,
apparently to reiterate and emphasise certain commands already laid upon
his subordinate, after which he went down the side into his boat, and
some five minutes afterwards the two craft filled away once more upon
their former course.

It would be impossible to convey to the reader, without going into the
most shocking and disgusting details, any clear idea of the sufferings
and indignities to which the unfortunate captain and crew of the
_Aurora_ were subjected during the next three weeks. Suffice it to sa