ng,
and, by the time they were overpowered, only three boats remained on the
shore. Into these, Fleetwood did not for a moment hesitate to throw
himself as soon as they were launched, with as many of his men as they
could contain, but the oars of two only could be found, and in vain were
those of the other hunted for. With a hearty cheer the gallant fellows
gave way after the enemy. The retreating pirates fired on them as they
advanced out into the bay. He could just distinguish, by the flashes of
the guns, the brig, and the two misticoes in the centre of it. As he
looked, their sails were loosened and swelled to the gale; the pirates
waited not to secure their boats, as they leaped on board. The cables
were cut, and the two misticos darted out through the narrow passage
into the open sea. Old Vlacco must have known what they were about, for
the fire from the fort towards the _Ypsilante_ seemed to be redoubled in
warmth, preventing her from aiming at them as well as she might have
done.

The _Sea Hawk_ had still several boats round her, and towards her
Fleetwood now steered. His men urged on the boat to their utmost
strength; he felt a hope that he might reach her, when her fore-topsail
was let fall, and sheeted home. A spring was on her cable, her head
turned rapidly round, her yards were squared away, the cable cut, and
she darted out from among a crowd of boats, among which she left the
English entangled, just as they were on the point of running alongside
her, and following her tenders out to sea, discharging her broadside
full at the _Ypsilante_, as she passed her. The Greek behaved
gallantly, and instantly put up her helm, and bore away in chase.

Fleetwood, his heart almost broker with agony at his disappointment, saw
that it would be in vain for him to pursue, and he also remembered that
the _Ypsilante_, with her reduced crew, and severely handled as she had
been by the fort, was in no way a match for the _Sea Hawk_, though her
shot might injure her, who was, he feared, on board.

There was, however, a doubt, on board which of the vessels Ada had been
carried, if she really had again been torn, almost as it were, from his
arms, and he dared not entertain a hope to the contrary.

Quick in action as in thought, these ideas passed through his mind as he
returned to the shore, with the purpose of hastening back to the ships,
and getting them to start in chase of the pirates.

At least, he thought, the