t that, when I ask you
politely," retorted the pirate chief, with a significant look, which did
not have the slightest effect on the brave sailor--indeed it only made
him smile.

"We will see," was all he said in reply, but his determined expression
of face added the rest.

"I can wait," answered the other; "so we will not argue the point, for
at present I have got more pressing matters to attend to."

A signal was then made to the felucca, which had kept the ship in sight
all the while, although close in to the land, and apparently proceeding
on a coasting-voyage, and having nothing to do with the other vessel;
and then, the course of the _Muscadine_ was altered and she bore up for
the Cyclades.

"I have no further dread of meeting any of your floating bull dogs,"
said the pirate chief affably, as if in explanation of his motives.
"And none of the French cruisers are up here now; they are all too busy
in Tunisian waters. So, I may as well shift your cargo, captain, at the
back of one of the little islands we are coming to, where we can lie by
unseen without any interference."

During the whole of that day, the ship was steered amongst a parcel of
shoals, which made poor Captain Harding tremble for her safety, albeit
she was taken out of his control; and, towards nightfall, she was
brought to anchor in sixteen fathoms, under the lea of a rocky cliff
that projected up into a peak on one of the tiny islets by which they
were encircled. Here, the felucca having followed them, the pick of her
cargo was removed to the smaller craft--a few bales of silk, some
tobacco, and a good portion of wine; the cases of dried fruit being left
untouched, as taking them to any of the Greek ports with the idea of
finding a market for their contents, as the corsair well knew, would
have been like carrying coals to Newcastle.

Then, the Englishmen, who had been well treated all the day in the
matter of food and drink--some books even were brought up by the orders
of the leader from the cabin, for them to read, his courtesy and
attention were so great--were removed to the felucca, being followed by
the Greek sailors; Captain Harding and the others subsequently
witnessing the melancholy sight of the ill-fated _Muscadine_ sinking at
her anchors, for she had been scuttled in several places after the
selected goods had been transferred to the pirate's own vessel, which
remained on the spot till the other disappeared beneath the waves.