he shore. One after the other followed like a flock of
sheep, all taking the water exactly in the same way, till not a pirate
remained on board. The midshipmen entreated Jos to remain, and
Hoddidoddi engaged to stick by them.

"The ladies, probably, can't swim," observed Jack; "but if we could
manage to launch a boat, we might get away before the big junk can scull
alongside." There was a boat, but on examining her, they found that she
had several holes in her side, which was the reason the pirates had not
taken her.

"That's pleasant," cried Jack. "Now if those fellows board us in a
hurry, before Jos has time to explain who we are, we shall get knocked
on the head to a certainty."

"We must stow ourselves away, I fear, till the first rush is over," said
Alick. "We must keep outside the ladies' cabin, so as to protect them."

"I am afraid so," said Jack, and he ran and told Madame Dubois and her
daughter what had occurred, and entreated them not to be alarmed--advice
which was more easily given than taken. Jack then ran back to Murray,
who was trying to induce Jos and Hoddidoddi to remain with them, they
very naturally wishing to swim on shore, under the belief that they
should be knocked on the head if they remained. On came the huge junk,
and in another instant would have been alongside, when, as the
midshipmen began to feel that too probably their last moments had
arrived, a loud roar was heard, up went her decks and masts and sails,
and fierce flames burst out from every part of her--the same event which
had happened to the brig had occurred to her; she had blown up. The
bodies of the poor wretches belonging to her, and the burning fragments
of the vessel, fell close alongside them, and nearly set their junk on
fire. Had they possessed a boat, they would have done their best to
render assistance to the drowning wretches; as it was, they ran to the
side of the vessel, and got such ropes as they could lay hands on to
heave-to the people who were swimming about. The pirates, however,
believing that if they came near the vessel they were about to attack
they would simply be thrust back again into the water, or be knocked on
the head, or have their throats cut, or be disposed of in some similarly
unpleasant way, kept at a distance, and the midshipmen saw them one by
one disappear beneath the surface. All this time the battle was raging
on every side round them, and the attacking fleet drew closer and closer