r pistols in their belts,
and pulled to the shore. The men, as they stepped in, touched their
hats respectfully to our hero, but said nothing. On their arrival on
board Jack read that part of the articles of war relative to mutiny, by
which the men were reminded of the very satisfactory fact, "that they
were to suffer death;" and then made a speech which, to men who were
starving, appeared to be interminable. However, there is an end to
everything in this world, and so there was to Jack's harangue; after
which Mesty gave them some biscuit, which they devoured in thankfulness,
until they could get something better. The next morning the wind was
fair, they weighed their hedge with some difficulty, and ran out of the
harbour: the men appeared very contrite, worked well, but in silence,
for they had no very pleasant anticipations; but hope always remains
with us; and each of the men, although he had no doubt but that the
others would be hung, hoped that he would escape with a sound flogging.
The wind, however, did not allow them to steer their course long; before
night it was contrary, and they fell off three points to the northward.
"However," as Jack observed, "at all events we shall make the Spanish
coast, and then we must run down it to Gibraltar: I don't care--I under
stand navigation much better than I did." The next morning they found
themselves, with a very light breeze, under a high cape, and, as the sun
rose, they observed a large vessel inshore, about two miles to the
westward of them, and another outside, about four miles off. Mesty took
the glass and examined the one outside, which, on a sudden, had let fall
all her canvas, and was now running for the shore, steering for the cape
under which Jack's vessel lay. Mesty put down the glass.

"Massa Easy--I tink dat de _Harpy_."

One of the seamen took the glass and examined her, while the others who
stood by showed great agitation.

"Yes, it is the _Harpy_," said the seaman. "Oh Mr Easy, will you
forgive us?" continued the man, and he and the others fell on their
knees. "Do not tell all, for God's sake, Mr Easy."

Jack's heart melted; he looked at Mesty.

"I tink," said Mesty apart to our hero, "dat with what them hab suffer
already, suppose they get _seven dozen apiece_, dat quite enough."

Jack thought that even half that punishment would suffice; so he told
the men, that although he must state what had occurred, he would not
tell all, and would con