on for the best. Meantime the pirates
were not idle; and she observed from her window, that they were engaged
all day long in strengthening and improving the fortification of the
castle, as well as those on the other side of the harbour. They threw
up embankments, also, across the neck of land which joined the rock on
which the castle stood, to the right of the island, and planted guns to
defend the approach to it, as also a whole line along the cliff, which
overlooked the entrance to the harbour.

Provisions of all sorts were got in from every part of the island, and
huts were erected, in which to store them; for the men, themselves
accustomed from their youth to the roughest life, cared not for shelter,
so that there was little chance of their being compelled, by famine, to
yield.

Nothing, indeed, was neglected, which might enable them to defend their
stronghold against any force sent against it.

The _Sea Hawk_ was also carefully refitted, and the two misticoes made
ready for defence or flight.

The _Zoe_ was again sent out to reconnoitre. She had been absent for
two days, and the pirate began to be alarmed for her safety, and to
argue that the enemy were probably approaching, and that she had fallen
into her hands. All was, consequently, activity and excitement. The
crew of the _Sea Hawk_ went on board to man her, and those of the
islanders destined to garrison the castle hurried up there with their
arms ready for action. At length, a sail was discerned approaching the
island, and she was soon pronounced to be the _Zoe_. Nearer and nearer
she drew to the land, till there was no doubt of her identity, and as
she entered the harbour, she was warmly greeted by those on shore, who
hurried down to learn the news she brought. Her crew reported that they
had visited the island when the English brig-of-war had last been seen,
but she was not there, nor could they gain any tidings of her; but that
they had, on the following day, when standing to the southward, made out
three sails, which, from the squareness of their yards, they conjectured
to be men-of-war, and that they were standing on a bowline to the
eastward, with the wind at north, but that they deemed it imprudent to
approach nearer to ascertain further particulars.

This information prevented Zappa from taking a cruise in the _Sea Hawk_,
as he had been intending, both to gain further intelligence of the
enemy, and to pick up a few prizes to satisfy th