who had fallen asleep, and told
him what he had seen.

"Maybe the same fellows as before are coming to pay us a visit," he
answered. "If they are we will treat them the same as the last time."

"Don't call Mr Adair, he wants rest, and there will be time enough when
the boats get nearer." Ben, however, got up to have a lookout, and then
called the rest of the crew. He found Pedro still asleep in the caboose
with the soup boiling over; he asked him what he would wish to do.

"Get the soup ready first," said Pedro. "Then you lash me up as before,
I no wish fight."

The soup being ready, Desmond called Adair, who, as well as his crew,
found it very welcome.

"I doubt much whether those fellows will venture to attack us, though
it's as well to be prepared," he observed. "If they do, though there
may be twice as many as at first, we must beat them off."

Adair and the rest had been so engaged in watching the approaching
boats, that no one thought of looking eastward with the exception of
Desmond.

"There is a sail in the offing, and she is standing in for the harbour,
as far as I can make out," he exclaimed, as he held the glass still
raised through which he had been looking. Adair took it from him, and
eagerly watched the approaching vessel.

"You are right, my boy," he answered. "She seems to me a brig about the
size of the _Supplejack_, but we shall make her out more clearly in a
short time; if she is a friend those slaving rascals will not dare to
attack us."

"But she may be a slaver herself, and then she will assist them,"
whispered Desmond.

"And then we shall have to fight her as well, that is all I can say
about it," answered Adair.

"What do you make her out to be?" he asked of Ben, who just then came
aft.

"She is scarcely large enough for the corvette, or I should have
expected her to come in and look for us. That craft is a brig, and as
like to be the _Supplejack_ as any other," said Ben. "I don't think the
people in the boats have made her out yet, or they would save themselves
the trouble of a long pull against wind and tide."

Some time elapsed before the matter could be decided. The boats made
but slow progress, but the stranger standing on under all sail rapidly
approached the mouth of the harbour. Still the former would be
alongside, and if the Brazilians had sufficient determination, they
might cut the cable and tow the brigantine up the harbour, before the
brig could come to h