okout for us.
However, I will do as you propose, for the wind is off the shore, and
the pirates are not likely to hear the guns. Mr Brown, fire the
foremost gun on the starboard side, and the next to it in four minutes'
time."

Directly after the order was issued, the gun sent forth its sheet of
flame, and its dull sound was heard booming along the waters. Several
others followed without any answering signal. The _Ione_ had now, in
Mr Saltwell's opinion, stood long enough to the northward, or rather to
the north-east, so he tacked ship, and they headed up rather more
towards the island, though she soon again fell off nearly south. The
larboard guns were now fired, and at last a tiny spirt of fire was seen
to the eastward, and the sharp report of a musket struck on the ears.

"About ship then," cried Saltwell, and when she was round, after
standing on a little way he hove her to, and ordered Mr Black to burn a
blue light to show their position. On this a faint cheer came down on
the wind to prove that the signal was perceived. The next few minutes
were passed, by those more immediately interested in the success of the
expedition, in considerable anxiety. The splash of oars was heard, and
but a single boat glided out of the darkness.

"In Heaven's name, where are the rest?" was the question asked by many
voices at once.

"Mr Tompion sent me back, sir, with Mr Linton, who is badly hurt,
while he and Mr Duff stopped to chase a pirate craft which had been
dodging us," replied Jennings, to Saltwell's questions, giving
afterwards a brief account of the failure of their expedition.

"Poor Linton wounded, and by such villains," muttered Saltwell, as his
brother-officer was lifted carefully on deck. "How does he seem,
Viall?" he inquired of the surgeon, who hurried forward when he heard
what had occurred.

"We shall see better when we get him below," returned the surgeon. "He
is alive, and that is all I can say."

The wounded officer was carried to his berth, where the surgeon and his
assistants assembled to examine his hurts.

"This is a bad business, indeed, for the captain," said Saltwell to
Colonel Gauntlett, as they resumed their walk on the poop, while the
ship remained hove to, waiting for the arrival of the other boats; "I
fear the pirate will murder him, and those with him, when he finds out
who he is."

"What, think you he will venture to murder a British officer, when he
knows that his strong-hold