We watched him with
no little interest, till he ascended with perfect coolness the side of
the ship. Our anxiety still further increased, after he reached the
deck and disappeared below. Minute after minute slowly passed by, still
he did not return. The pirates with their pistols got up closer to us,
and one, a most hideous black fellow, kept looking at us and then at his
weapon, and grinning from ear to ear, as if he was mightily eager to put
it to our heads and pull the trigger. We tried to look as unconcerned
as possible, but I must own that I could not help every now and then
turning round, to ascertain in what direction the muzzle of the pistol
was pointed. The black and his companion looked so malicious, that I
feared, whatever occurred, we should be the sufferers. If Captain Bruno
escaped, we should still remain in captivity; or should he be suspected
and detained, probably the pirates would revenge themselves on us. I
was afraid of speaking, and almost of moving, lest, even should I lift
an arm, it might be construed into the act of making a signal, and I
might get a bullet sent through my head. The American corvette, with
her spread of white canvas, looked very elegant and graceful as she lay
hove-to, a short distance from us. I wished very much that I was out of
the pirate, and safe on board her, even though the former might get free
away without the punishment she deserved. But all such hopes, it
appeared, were likely to prove vain. After the lapse of another ten
minutes Captain Bruno himself appeared on deck. As he stood at the
gangway, he shook hands cordially with some of the officers. He seemed
to be exchanging some good joke with them, for he and they laughed
heartily when he went down the side, and stepped into the boat. As he
pulled back to the schooner, he waved his hand, and took off his hat
with the most becoming courtesy. "Well," thought I to myself,
"certainly impudence will sometimes carry the day."

He was soon again on board. "Make sail," he said with a calm smile;
"the corvette and we are going in search of a rascally pirate, which has
committed all sorts of atrocities. I wonder whether we shall find her."
The joke seemed to tickle the fancies of all on deck, for a quiet
chuckle was heard on every side. "Keep the rest of the people below,"
he said to Silva; "it might surprise the crew of the man-of-war to see
so many ugly fellows on board a quiet trader." The order was stric