o trifled with.

"You will not shoot me, surely!" exclaimed the Don.

"Not if you obey me," answered Jack; "but you will understand that I am
in earnest. Now, order the helmsman to keep the vessel away; your men
will do what you tell them, I am very certain."

The Don saw that there was no help for it, and directed his motley and
somewhat ruffian-like crew to do as Jack told them.

"We will have the nearest first; and understand, if she escapes us, I
intend to blow out your brains. I shall regret it, but necessity has no
law."

The breeze was freshening. Away dashed the _Venus_, sending the water
bubbling up around her bows, while the brig stood rather more to the
southward, keeping in deeper water to be ready to cut off either of the
schooners which might attempt to escape in that direction. At first
they probably fancied that the _Venus_ had by some lucky chance got away
from the brig-of-war; but they were very soon mistaken, when the British
ensign which Tom, who had accompanied Jack, found on board flew out at
her peak.

Jack ordered a gun to be run through the bow port, and one well directed
shot from it made the first schooner haul down her colours. The second,
on seeing what had happened, having no stomach for a fight, followed her
example, and in half an hour Jack had his three prizes standing out from
the dangerous vicinity of the shoals. He then ordered them all to heave
to, that he might examine them at leisure.

Don Lopez showed some anxiety to go into his cabin.

"No, no, my friend," said Jack quietly, "you will allow me to accompany
you. I am sorry to be so uncourteous, but I must have an examination of
your papers."

He had ordered Bevan and Norris, who had gone on board the other
vessels, not to allow anything to be thrown overboard or destroyed.

Don Lopez pulled his moustaches and accompanied his captor into the
cabin, where he most unwillingly produced his writing-case. In it were
found several documents, one of them from no less a person than Don
Matteo Laguna, directing him how to proceed on his arrival on the coast
of Africa. There were several other papers very clearly implicating two
or three persons of wealth in Havannah. It was pretty clearly shown how
these gentlemen obtained the fortunes which enabled them to hold so
distinguished a place among the rank and fashion of that far-famed city.
On board, also, was found a large assortment of swords, muskets, and
slave-irons, w