from his hand, pulled him down to the deck. In vain he
struggled, other seamen surrounded him, and he was secured. Several men
of the pirate crew were driven overboard, and the rest leaped down below
to avoid the cutlasses of the British. Some in the madness of their
rage began to fire up at their captors. Fortunately, none of the latter
were killed, or it would have fared ill with the pirates. Truefitt and
others on finding this, leaped down among them, and singling out the
culprits, bound them hand and foot, and bringing them on deck, threw
them down with a kick in their sides, and an order to behave themselves.

Soon after the din of battle was over, some cries were heard proceeding
from a cabin in the after part of the vessel. Morton at once, knocking
off the companion-hatch, followed by a midshipman and several more,
leaped below. As the skylight hatch was on, the cabin was very dark,
but there was light sufficient to enable him to distinguish two old men
and a young lady struggling in the power of some of the pirate crew, who
had apparently forced their way into the cabin from forward. The
ruffians were soon hauled off from their intended victims, and secured,
with a double allowance of kicks, on deck, while Morton busied himself
with rendering what assistance he could to the young lady and her
companions. They were Spanish he found by their dress and language.
One was habited in the costume of an ecclesiastic.

He was a thin, small old man, in whose sallow cheeks it seemed as if the
blood could never have mantled, while from his calm exterior it could
not have been supposed that he had just been rescued from imminent
danger. The young lady, before Morton could reach her, had sunk down on
a locker half-fainting.

"Air, air!" she murmured out, "Oh, my father! see to him."

The old man had sunk on the deck of the cabin. The priest stooped down
to raise him up, while Ronald helped to knock off the skylight, and then
went to the assistance of the young lady. The stream of fresh air which
came from above helped to restore both daughter and father. They were
then got upon deck, and the pure atmosphere, with a sight of the British
flag, and their late masters bound hand and foot, soon completely
restored them. The old gentleman was a fine looking Don of the ancient
regime; the daughter, a perfect Spanish beauty, with raven hair and
flashing eyes, and dark clear complexion. The old Don was profuse in
his