rds some of them to be sure, or they
would have stuck by us, and we should have beaten off the pirates; but
still I cannot bear to think of them all being cruelly murdered,"
observed the captain to his mate.

"I guess you're not far wrong, captain," answered Joe Hudson. "If it
hadn't been for these British officers, we should have been where they
are, pleasant or unpleasant."

"We only did for you what I am sure you would have done for us,"
answered Murray. "We liked to see the brave way you met the pirates,
and we are very glad to have assisted any Americans, whom we look upon
as cousins, the next thing to our own countrymen."

"Thank you, sir, thank you," said Captain Willock warmly, taking Alick's
hand. "If the Britishers and Yankees were always together, we might
flog all the world, I guess, who might try to oppose us." Thus harmony
prevailed among the captives.

For the next two days the fleet lay at anchor, those junks which had
suffered by the explosion of the brig being engaged in repairing
damages.

Jack got on very rapidly with his French, for, having nothing else to
do, he studied very hard, and Mademoiselle Cecile happened to have a
copy of _Paul and Virginia_ in her pocket when the vessel was attacked.
It served as a capital lesson-book.

As Murray already knew French, he did not require Miss Cecile's lessons,
and so he was able to look philosophically on, and, like a wise monitor,
he told Jack to take care what he was about, neither to take possession
of the young lady's heart nor to lose his own. Whether he would have
taken this advice, which was sage and sound, it is impossible to say;
but other stirring events happened which put a stop to the French
lessons.

One evening the midshipmen observed the pirates in a great state of
commotion. Those who were on shore came off and armed themselves after
their fashion, by sticking pistols and daggers in their belts, and
hanging swords over their necks, and then all hands set busily to work
to get their ships into fighting order. Jos, who had been on shore,
came off among the others, and informed them that another pirate fleet
had hove in sight, and that it was expected that it would come into the
bay to attack them for the sake of making them disgorge the booty they
had collected.

"Pretty scoundrels," said Jack; "there is not even honour among these
thieves themselves."

"No, sare," answered Jos quietly. "Big man in dis country always cut
l