ance of being restored to my
ship I could not resist the temptation. I measured the distance
between the _Fair Maid_ and the launch with my eye, and, though a poor
swimmer, considered I might manage to keep afloat till the launch
should pick me up. I turned round, shook hands with old Muzzy, and
before he knew what I had in mind, plunged over the side into the
water.

I heard a cry go up from the crew, who at first thought it was an
accident, my zeal in helping to work the ship having put it out of
their minds that I was merely a prisoner. However, they had too much
to do in looking after their own escape to give much thought to me;
and in the end they got very fairly away, and disappeared outside the
river's mouth.

In the meantime the launch came on towards me, and then a thing
happened which I may truly say brought my heart into my mouth. For one
of the marines in her, looking on me no doubt as one of the pirates,
raised his musket and aimed it directly at my head. The sun was behind
me, but fell full upon his face, and I could see the narrowing of his
eye as he took aim, also the flash of the sunlight along the barrel. I
had made up my mind that I was a dead man, and was even hoping that
my death would be too swift for me to feel the pain of the wound, when
I saw the gun struck up and heard the voice of Irish Mick crying out
in a mixture of terror and laughter--

"Sure, don't you know him? It's the little purser!"

The recognition came almost as near killing as saving me, for in their
amazement the men of the launch ceased rowing, and as in my expectancy
of death I had lost all power of motion I was like to have been
drowned. However, they rescued me just in time, and welcomed me on
board with a heartiness which did much to make amends for the
suffering I had gone through since I had left their company.

I told them my story, and had to tell it again to Mr. Griffiths and
the purser when I reached the ship. Mr. Sanders received me coldly,
and pronounced that I had been rightly served for hankering after my
former evil companions, but the lieutenant spoke to me more kindly,
and praised me for my refusal to join myself to the privateers, or
rather pirates, for such they were now openly become.

I claimed his promise to let me take part in the fighting, to which he
willingly consented; though, indeed, there was but little glory to be
gained, as the pirates were now so cowed as to have pretty well ceased
to retur