ight lay
concealed till the return of daylight should enable them to proceed on
their expedition. They had passed several such nights, since they had
come into the China seas, and many more on the coast of Africa, so that
there was nothing very particular to interest them. One officer at a
time and two men in each boat were directed to keep watch while the rest
went to sleep. It was Jack's middle watch. It is not surprising,
considering all the fatigues he had gone through, that he should be very
drowsy. Still, he did his utmost to keep awake. He kept pinching
himself and rubbing his nose, and then he lit a cigar and tried to
smoke; but, in spite of it, he was conscious that more than once he
indulged in a loud snore. His head nodded, too, just like that of a
person who unfortunately falls asleep in church. He had kept the
prisoner who had been committed to his side. The man appeared to be
fast asleep. Jack, in spite of his drowsiness, became conscious that
something was moving close to them. There was a splash. He started up.
The prisoner was not in his place. At a little distance off a round
object popped out of the water. In an instant Jack, giving a loud
shout, was overboard and darting away in chase of the man. The shout he
gave and the noise of his plunge woke up the people in the other boats,
only in time, though, to see the other Chinaman swimming away in the
direction taken by his countryman. On this all the boats slipped their
cables and made chase, though there appeared a great probability that in
the darkness the pirates would effect their escape.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

A swim in the dark through waters where sharks abound, and in chase of
an enemy who may very likely be armed with a sharp creese, is far from
an agreeable amusement.

Away swam the pirate, and after him swam Jack. "If he has a knife, it
won't be pleasant," he said to himself. "However, I must be cautious as
I get up to him. Ah! there he is. Now, old fellow, what have you got
to say for yourself?"

Jack was within about a couple of yards of the Chinese. The man turned
his head to look over his shoulder. Jack darted on. At that moment
Jack saw an object in the pirate's hand, gleaming from the bright light
of a star hitherto obscured. It was a creese. The man turned round to
meet him and plunge it into his body; but at the moment he did so Jack
dived down, and coming up on the other side