nd he therefore acted to the best of his
judgment. He ordered the boats to accompany him, pulling as fast as
they could, in the direction in which they had seen the firing; but they
had come clearly in sight of the lofty cliffs of the island before they
perceived the mistico standing in for the land, and a fleet of boats
near her, just distinguishable through the gloom. The tables were now
reversed, and it was this time the smaller force chasing the larger one;
but even had there been twice the number of boats, Linton would not have
hesitated to chase them. The British crews, as they found that they
were in sight of the enemy, gave forth three of those hearty cheers
which they can seldom resist uttering in moments of excitement, and,
with redoubled energy, dashed after the retreating boats.

That cheer was heard by those of the captives who still retained their
consciousness, and though it showed them that they were not deserted by
their friends, it made the pirates still more eager to return to their
strong-hold, to avoid encountering an enemy so evidently in good spirits
and courage.

The mistico sailed well; but, as the wind stood, it was evident that she
would be obliged to make one tack, if not more, before she could fetch
the harbour, and this gave the British a hope that they should at all
events be able to cut her off; and Linton doubted whether it would not
be better first to get hold of as many of the boats as they could, and
then to wait for her off the mouth of the harbour.

"I think the boats have got the captain, and the rest of them, on board,
by the way they pull," shouted Linton, to Tompion, who commanded the
cutter. "Tackle them first, and we may pay the other rascals off
afterwards. Huzza, my men--give way, or they will be into their den
before we can get alongside them."

"The mistico has tacked," shouted Tompion, in return. "Shall I fire
into her?"

"No--no; no firing--we may be hitting our friends," cried Linton. "Let
her go--we can get her afterwards."

As the boats drew near her, the mistico opened a fire of small arms and
swivels on them over the larboard side; for she was now standing
directly across their course, bringing them, as she got more to the
northward, under her stern; so that when she again tacked, she would be
able to bring her starboard broadside to bear on them. The pirate boats
also commenced a slight and uncertain fire, showing that very few of
them had arms; but,