me; but
never say die, while there's a shot in the locker, so I held on my
course. It was not long, however, before my eyes fell on your topsails,
rising out of the sea, and glad enough I was, you may be sure, when you
made sail and stood towards me, for then I knew that I was seen. The
rascally mistico was overhauling me fast, though, and as I feared she
would get me within range of her guns before you could reach me, I
thought I would give them something to shoot at instead of my head, so I
rigged up a figure with a _capote_ and cap, which I found in the boat,
and stuck it up in the stern, and there fitting some lines on to the
tiller, I made a berth for myself at the bottom of the boat to stow
myself away in, as soon as they began to fire. It's lucky I did so, for
if I had had nine lives, like a cat, I should have lost them all; and
what would have been worse, the captain would have been retaken. My
eyes, how the blackguards peppered at me; but you know all about that,
and now, to my mind, the sooner we set to work to pay them off, and to
get Miss Garden out of their hands, the better."

This account was given by Jack Raby in his berth to his messmates, that
narrated to the first lieutenant was more concise, without his own
remarks on the subjects; for instance, he left out how often he had
kissed Marianna--and how often he had tried to learn Romaic of little
Mila, and made love on the strength of it--though, to his messmates, he
enlarged much on these points, and hinted that he had completely won the
heart of the old pirate's granddaughter, whom he described as a perfect
angel in a red cap.

It was with almost a cheer of joy, and many a sincere thanksgiving to
Heaven, and a glistening of many a manly eye, that, some days
afterwards, the news flew along the decks that the surgeon had
positively declared that the captain was out of danger, and would soon
again be fit for duty.

Mr Linton had, notwithstanding his own prognostications, very much
improved; and, though still confined to his berth, there was every
probability of his soon recovering.

The _Ypsilante_ had in the mean time been dispatched to summon any
British ships she could meet, to the assistance of Captain Fleetwood;
who, to strengthen his claim for their cooperation--for, as a junior
officer, of course he could not order them to come to him--sent by her
an account of the atrocities committed by the _Sea Hawk_; and a
statement that an English lad