e from the shore. Several of them
had whistled by my ear. Then I heard one strike close to me with a
peculiar dead sound. At the same moment a sharp, unearthly cry rung in
my ear. It was uttered by Captain Ralph. "Helfrich!" he exclaimed,
"they have done for me. I thought that I had secured all I required,
and might live henceforth in peace. I die with unnumbered sins on my
conscience, without one good act performed, with every advantage
neglected, with a thousand opportunities of reformation thrown away. I
have lived a life of imposture, outraging all laws, human and divine,
and I die miserably without hope--without hope--without hope! Oh, save
me! save me! save me!" The last words the miserable man gasped out with
difficulty. Scarcely had he spoken them, when his head fell down over
his breast, a convulsive shudder passed through his frame, and the once
dreaded pirate was dead!

CHAPTER EIGHT.

PIRATES IN BOTH HEMISPHERES.

The balls from the pirates' muskets not a little increased the rapidity
of our movements. Two or three men in the other boats were hit, and one
was killed. When Captain Helfrich discovered what had occurred, he
carefully closed the old pirate's eyes, and placed the body on the seat
by his side. His men, however, evinced very little sorrow at his death.
Who he was, and what he had done during his life, I was never able
clearly to learn. He was a man of education, and a first-rate seaman,
as I had had an opportunity of observing; and I should think that he
would have succeeded in any line of life he might have chosen to adopt.
He selected, unhappily, a very bad one, for I believe that his whole
career had been lawless; but that, rather from the peculiarity of his
temper than from any fear of committing evil, he had usually abstained,
when he had the power in his own hands, from shedding blood.

The grey dawn broke as we were pulling down the creek, and just as the
headmost boat touched the side of a schooner which lay at its mouth, the
sun rose in a blaze of glory out of the smooth dark blue ocean. Peter,
looking over his shoulder, recognised her as our little sugar vessel.
We were soon alongside. Friends to our lawless companions were on
board. The cable was hove short, the mainsail was set, and all was
ready to weigh in a moment. As many boats as the schooner could stow on
deck: were hoisted on board; the rest went ahead to tow her out. The
plan of escape had been well a