ater which marked the channels between them could be
seen. Farther to the eastward were two suspicious-looking schooners,
evidently bent on making their way through one or other of the
before-named channels.

"We must have the big one first, and then get hold of the other two,"
said Jack to Bevan, who stood by his side.

The lead was kept going, and showed that the water was rapidly shoaling.

"Try her with Long Tom, Needham," cried out Jack; "he may chance to
reach her."

"It's as much as Long Tom will do, sir, but we'll see," answered
Needham, bringing the gun to bear on the chase.

Away sped the shot, but, though well aimed, it fell short of its mark.

"We must have her at all cost," cried Jack eagerly, "or in less than
five minutes she will be among the breakers; and we shall be on shore.
Give Long Tom a larger charge of powder, and see what that will do."

Needham did as he was ordered, though it occurred to him that the dose
he rammed down might chance to be too much for Long Tom's strength; if
so it would have the effect of blowing him and not a few of his
shipmates out of the world; still, as he had faith in the gun's power of
endurance, he risked it without remark, and taking good aim once more
fired. Never had he made a better shot. The missile swept the deck of
the schooner, carrying off the heads of three of her crew, and killing
and wounding others--though this was unknown at the time. The instant
effect was to make her skipper haul down his colours and put the
schooner about with her head off the bank, and in a short time she was
hove-to near the brig-of-war, which had also gone about. Jack, jumping
into a boat, which was instantly lowered with a well-armed crew, pulled
on board.

The Spanish captain, whom he recognised as Don Lopez, a polished-looking
gentleman he had met soon after his arrival at Havannah, at the house of
Don Matteo, made a polite bow, and asked with an injured air why the
English man-of-war had chased and fired at him.

"I shall be able to give you an answer by and by, my friend," answered
Jack. "In the meantime, Don Lopez, I am anxious to get hold of those
two schooners before they make their way through the channels to the
north-east; and as I do not wish to run the risk of casting away my
brig, I must trouble you to stand where you are and take me up alongside
them."

As Jack spoke he presented a double-barrelled pistol at the Don's head,
as a sign that he was not t