they would do.
At length they threw themselves on the ground, and endeavoured to obtain
a little rest in preparation for the work before them.

Jack thought that he had been only a few minutes asleep, when he started
to his feet on hearing Needham's voice. "What is it?" he exclaimed,
looking around. It was daylight, but a thick white mist hung over the
sea.

"The enemy are not far off, I suspect, sir," answered Needham, who at
that instant was entering the encampment. "My mind misgave me somehow,
and I went to the top of the rock." Before he could finish the sentence
Jack sprang on towards the place mentioned, followed by Terence, who
roused up the moment he heard Jack's voice. On reaching the top of the
rock, they cast their eyes eagerly seaward. At first nothing but a mass
of white mist could be seen. Jack thought that Needham had been
mistaken. While, however, they were still in doubt, a current of air it
seemed blew off the top of the mist just as froth is blown from a mug of
ale, and the upper sails of a fleet of prahus appeared not a quarter of
a mile from the shore.

"The pirates must be looking for us," exclaimed Terence; "it will be
fortunate if the mist continues, and they slip by without pitching on
us."

"Pitching into us, you mean," said Jack, with a laugh. "Well, if they
find us out, we must drive them off, and hold our own till the frigate
sends to look for us. Still as they are ugly customers, we'll do our
best to keep out of their sight." In this strain the two midshipmen
talked on for some time, watching the movements of the prahus. Now the
fog closed round them--now it lifted and exposed their sails to view.
They seemed to be gliding by the island. Yet they were unpleasantly
near.

"If the fog lifts, they can scarcely fail to see us," remarked Terence.

"Then, Paddy, we must fight it out to the last, and I am sure that you
are of my opinion too," said Jack.

"That I am, Jack," cried Adair, wringing his hand. "But I say, what is
that? I heard the splash of oars." They listened. There could be no
doubt of it, and their practised ears told them that it was not the
stroke of British seamen. The pirates, it was too probable, had sent on
shore, and would land close to the very spot where the wreck of the
boats lay. They would in all probability betray them. It could not be
helped, so they hurried back to the camp to prepare for whatever might
happen. As they passed along the b