at his oar.

"Never fear, my chief, we will all be pierced through and through before
we give in," he exclaimed. "Row on bravely, my comrades, row on."

The two gigs were now in full chase, rather more than a quarter of a
mile astern, and the brig had ceased firing, leaving all the work to be
performed by them. Linton had command of the first gig, Tompion of the
second, and both had some loaded muskets in their stern sheets, and all
the men had their cutlasses and pistols; all these necessary
arrangements having considerably delayed the boats, but Saltwell judged
rightly, that it would be worse than folly to send unarmed men against
such desperate characters as the pirates. There was a strong breeze
blowing nearly across the harbour, from the north-west, and, as soon as
Zappa had got from under the lee of the land, and felt the full force of
it, he considered that he should be able to make more way under sail
than by pulling. Two of the people were obliged to lay on their oars
for the purpose of hoisting it, and, as soon as the English saw this,
they set up a loud shout, thinking the chase was going to give in. They
soon saw their mistake, and, as the large lateen sail rose above the
little stump of a mast, the boat felt the force with which she was
pressed onward, and away she darted over the water. The English bent to
their oars till the good ash sticks almost cracked, each boat vying with
the other to get ahead. Do all they could, however, they could not
overtake the Greek. Linton saw that, if they were to catch the pirate,
they must kill each man who came to the helm, so as to keep the boat
luffed up in the wind. He accordingly raised a musket and fired. It
was a good shot, and, though Zappa escaped, the man next him received
the ball in his bosom. He fell back with a deep groan, a convulsive
shudder passed through his frame, and he was dead.

"If that is to be the game," exclaimed the pirate, grinding his teeth
with passion till now not expressed. "I must try which of us is the
best shot."

And forthwith he drew from under the nets two rifles which had been
concealed there.

"Steady the helm here, Baldo, while I try to punish our pursuers."

He fired. His first shot seemed to take no effect. He raised the
second; a wild shriek came across the waters, uttered by the poor fellow
who pulled the stroke oar of Linton's boat, on whom his too sure aim had
taken effect. Both boats now, in revenge, beg