alks with her along the
sea-shore or through the woods.

One day as he was sitting on a rock by the sea-side with Elizabeth,
holding her hand in his, and talking of that happy future of which
lovers delight to discourse, a white speck appeared in the horizon,
which they well knew to be a sail. Gradually it increased in size.
Higher and higher it rose, till the white canvas of a tall ship appeared
above the long, unbroken line in the distance. The hull next came in
sight, and the ship glided on rapidly towards the island. While the
lovers were watching her, wondering what she could be, whether the
pirate vessel or some stranger, another appeared in the same spot where
she had first been seen. Gradually the sails of that one also rose
upward, till the whole ship came in sight. Both of them were nearly
before the wind, carrying as much canvas as they were able to bear. The
first came rapidly on.

"She is bound in for the harbour," observed Jack, "and from my
recollection of the vessel which boarded us when I was made prisoner, I
have no doubt that that is the same. If so, we must expect to have the
pirate and his gang on shore again."

"But what can that other vessel be?" asked Elizabeth, pointing towards
the stranger.

Jack stood up to examine her, shading his eyes with his hand.

"She looks to me wonderfully like a man-of-war. It is possible that she
may be in chase of the pirate. And see, here comes another vessel, her
topsails are already above the horizon--and a third also! The pirates
have brought a whole host of their enemies down upon them. The
authorities in Jamaica have, I know, long been on the look-out to
discover the head-quarters of the buccaneers. They have come for the
purpose of attacking the island, and will not let a pirate escape if
they can help it. Ah, see, there flies out the black flag! A daring
fellow commands that vessel, and, depend upon it, he is resolved to
fight it out to the last. The queen's ship has hoisted her colours
also. The object of the other is to disable her before her consorts can
come up, and if he succeeds in that he hopes to get into the harbour,
and there defend himself."

The lock on which Deane and Elizabeth had taken their seat commanded not
only a view of the sea, and of the entrance of the harbour, but also of
a considerable part of the harbour itself. They could thus from their
position watch all that was taking place.

The royal cruiser under al