ome on deck with revolvers in their hands. They turned
round, and shouted in English and Spanish, and Malay down the hatchway,
to the crew to come up on deck, and defend themselves and the ship and
passengers like men. No one appeared.

"Cowards, wretches, brutes, will you have your throats cut like sheep
without an attempt to defend yourselves? Take that, then!" cried the
captain, and in his rage he hove his pistol at their heads and stood
prepared for his fate. The mate threw his overboard, which was a wiser
proceeding, and then, folding his arms, stood ready to bear whatever
might occur.

"Those are brave fellows," cried Jack; "we must try and save their lives
at all events."

The pirate crews now burst forth into the most terrific and unearthly
shouts, and, urging on their junks, dashed up to the brig, and
simultaneously threw their grappling irons on board her. At the same
time those nearest to her hove fire-balls, and stink-pots, and stones,
and bits of iron, and missiles of all sorts on board, and then
reiterating their shrieks, sprang on to her deck. The captain and his
mate, who had hitherto undauntedly stood at their post, were borne down;
and the pirates, throwing themselves on them, seized their arms and
bound them to the mainmast. There seemed to be a hundred or more
pirates from the different junks: their persons garnished with pistols
and daggers of all sorts stuck in leathern belts, and their heads
surmounted with red turbans, which increased the natural hideousness of
their countenances. Some of the savage crew joined hands and leaped and
danced round and round the deck, with the most violent contortions of
the body, shrieking all the time at the top of their voices, while
others, flourishing their daggers and shrieking louder than ever, rushed
below. At that instant a cry very different from that of the pirates
ascended from the cabin. Jack and Alick heard it.

"It is the voice of a lady, or a female at all events," cried Jack.
"Alick, we must go and assist her. Jos, my boy, come along. Tell
Hoddidoddi he is wanted. The Chinamen won't stop us, they are all too
busy."

"I am with you," answered Murray, as they picked up two Chinese swords,
several of which lay about, and, followed by the Malay, leaped unopposed
on the deck of the brig.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

THE NIGHT BATTLE.

The Chinese pirates were so busily employed in the agreeable occupation
of plundering the American b