of miles away, the flames were seen to
rush upwards, and a loud explosion reached them. She had been blown
into the air, and her burning masts and spars were seen coming down like
rockets from the sky; then all was total darkness. The _Pearl_ passed
close to the spot where she had been. Not long after, the look-out,
Charlie Ross, who was looking out forward, saw a large ship hove-to on
the starboard bow. He hurried aft with the information to Roger.
Tronson was summoned to give his opinion. He declared his belief that
she was one of the pirate squadron.

"Then we will stand on and hail her. If she does not give a
satisfactory answer we will run alongside and compel her to strike. The
sound of our guns will soon lead the _Ruby_ to the spot," said Roger.

Roger, hoping to take the pirate by surprise, determined to board her,
under the expectation that her crew might be either engaged in stowing
the cargo of the captured vessel, or carousing after their victory.
Bates was to lead the boarders over the quarter, while Charlie Ross was
to guard the forecastle to prevent the _Pearl_ being boarded in return.
He considered it his duty to remain on board to direct operations. The
_Pearl_ drew nearer and nearer to the stranger. Upon getting close to
her, Roger asked what ship she was. An unintelligible answer was
returned. Accordingly, firing a double-shotted broadside into the
stranger, he ordered the _Pearl_ to be run alongside. Grappling-irons
were thrown over her bulwarks and into her rigging. At the same moment
Bates, leading nearly half the crew, sprang on board. Roger was not out
in his calculations. The greater number of the officers and men were
below, drinking hard and fast, as Tronson had thought likely. Some
sprang to their arms, but many were cut down before they had time to do
so. Some cried out for quarter, others fired up the hatchway. The
British crew fired down in return. The deck in five minutes was swept
clear of every human being. An attempt was made to blow up the ship,
frustrated, happily, by Bates, and in ten minutes he and his handful of
men had mastered the whole of the pirate crew. He and they shouted,
"Victory! We have got full possession of her."

"Well done, Bates!" cried Roger. "Lash the fellows' arms behind as fast
as you can, and send them aboard." Just as he had said this, three sail
were seen standing towards them. These were evidently more of the
pirates intending to