the north gully like a wildcat; and you
know, mother, there are only two of us in Sandy Cove who can go over
that gully. Aye, and he went a full yard further than ever I did. I
measured the leap as I came down. Really, it is too bad to have been
beaten so completely by a man who must be nearly double my age. But,
after all, the worst of the whole affair is, that a pirate has escaped
me after I actually had him in my arms!--the villain!"

"You do not _know_ that he is a villain," said the widow in a subdued
tone.

"You are right, mother," said Henry, looking up from the plate of bacon,
to which he had been devoting himself with much assiduity, and gazing
earnestly into his mother's face,--"you are right and, do you know, I
feel inclined to give the fellow the benefit of the doubt; for, to tell
you the truth, I have a sort of liking for him. If it had not been for
the way in which he has treated you, and the suspicious character that
he bears, I do believe I should have made a friend of him."

A look of evident pleasure crossed the widow's face while her son spoke;
but as that son's eyes were once more riveted on the bacon, which his
morning exercise rendered peculiarly attractive, he did not observe it.

Just then the door opened, and Mr. Mason entered. His face wore a
dreadfully anxious expression.

"Ha! I'm glad to see you, Henry," said he; "of course you have not
caught your man. I have been waiting anxiously for you to consult about
our future proceedings. It is quite evident that the pirate schooner
cannot be far off. Gascoyne must either have swam ashore, or been landed
in a boat. In either case the schooner must have been within the reef at
the time, and there has been little wind since the squall blew itself
out yesterday."

"Quite enough, however, to blow such a light craft pretty far out to
sea in a few hours," said Henry, shaking his head.

"No matter," replied Mr. Mason, with a sigh; "_something_ must be done,
at any rate. I have borrowed the carpenter's small cutter, which is now
being put in order for a voyage. Provisions and water for a few days are
already on board, and I have come to ask you to take command of her, as
you know something of navigation. I will go, of course, but will not
take any management of the little craft, as I know nothing about the
working of vessels."

"And where do you mean to go?" asked Henry.

"That remains to be seen. I have some ideas running in my head, of
course;