er assistance.

The Brazilians must have seen the stranger by this time, but probably
they did not believe that she was a man-of-war. They had now come
within musket-shot. Terence, on looking through the glass, saw that
there were several officers in uniform in the boats, and began to
suspect that they were really official characters, sent by the
government to inquire into the cause of the firing in the early part of
the night; he did not, therefore, wish to commence hostilities till he
had ascertained, if possible, their real character.

The stranger had now slightly to alter her course, when the English flag
blew out, and Adair had no longer any doubt that she was the
_Supplejack_.

The flag at the same time had been seen by the people in the boats.
Whatever were their intentions, they ceased pulling, apparently holding
a consultation; then putting about they made the best of their way up
the harbour. Terence felt very much inclined to let fly a volley at
them, but mercy, or prudence, prevailed, though if they were the pirates
they deserved any punishment he might inflict on them.

As the _Supplejack_ rounded to under the stern of the brigantine, Adair
hailed and said what had happened, when Rogers, accompanied by Tom and
McTavish, instantly came on board.

"You always come in the nick of time, Jack," exclaimed Adair, as they
shook hands; "we had a hard tussle last night, and we might have had a
harder this morning if you had not made your appearance, but how is it
that you have come in here?"

Jack replied that after the gale he had chased a slaver, which had led
him a long way out of his course, and having fallen in with the _Tudor_,
Murray directed him to look for the prize, and then to escort her to
Rio, whence she was to be sent to Sierra Leone.

McTavish doctored the wounded men, and Adair declared that he felt well
enough to go on shore with Rogers to lay his complaint before the
Government regarding the outrage which had been attempted in a friendly
port.

The Governor, Senhor Jose da Silva Souza, declared that he knew nothing
whatever about it; he had been astonished at hearing firing, and had
sent the captain of the port, with his attendant officials, to ascertain
the cause.

"They came in pretty strong force then, and I should have certainly
fired at them had they attempted to come on board. What redress can you
make us?" asked Adair.

"I will direct that the fellows be looked for, and if w