"You have again saved my life, Freeborn!" he exclaimed as soon as he had
recovered his senses and saw what had occurred.

"All right, sir," answered Billy; "but we will punish the next craft. I
suppose they don't all intend to blow up. Hurrah, lads, we've not done
with the Dons yet!"

Even while he was speaking, the mast, spars, and rigging of the vessel
which had blown up kept thickly falling around them. Some of the
English seamen were hurt, and one or more killed by them, besides three
or four killed by the actual explosion on board; still the commander of
the expedition was not a man to give up any work on account of losses.
On they went, therefore, towards the next vessel--a large brig. The
Spanish crew were prepared to receive them, and opened a hot fire from
several guns. However, from being pointed too high, the shot passed
over their heads.

The boats were the next instant alongside. Sir Henry, with True Blue,
gained the forecastle. Scarcely for a minute did the Spaniards
withstand their onslaught; their boats were on the opposite side, and,
rapidly retreating, they leaped into them.

"Elmore, you and your boat's crew keep possession of the vessel, and
carry her out," said the first lieutenant. "I will take a couple more,
and, if possible, come back for the rest."

Having hurriedly given these directions, he with his men leaped into
their boats, while Sir Henry gave the necessary orders for getting the
brig under weigh; the jib was hoisted, and two hands were sent aloft to
lower the fore-topsail.

True Blue, however, without waiting for orders, acted on the impulse
which seized him, and hurried below. It was more than an impulse; his
mind was full of the dreadful fate he and his companions had just
escaped, and it occurred to him that the Spaniards might again be guilty
of a similar act of barbarity.

All was quiet below, but a stream of light issued from a chink in one of
the side cabins. He hastily opened the door; a taper was burning on the
top of a cask. The cask was full of gunpowder! Several similar casks
stood around. The slightest heeling over of the brig, as her sails felt
the wind, might make her share the fate of her consort, or, in another
minute or two, the candle itself would burn down and ignite the powder.

There was not a moment for deliberation, and yet the slightest act of
carelessness would destroy him and his friends. A single spark falling
from the long wick woul