reality that they might be sewn up
neatly in their hammocks, with a shot at their feet, to carry them down
to the oozy bed of the ocean beyond the ken of the sharks.

The _Gnat_ had just got off, and with the musquito fleet in tow was
steaming up towards the pirates' stronghold. As Mr Norman's three
boats passed within long range of the fort, several shots were fired at
them without doing any damage, nor did the pirates make chase, which
they might have done with a good chance of capturing their enemies.

At last the boats got alongside the _Gnat_. Captain Rogers received the
account Mr Norman gave him with much concern.

"But is it certain that he is killed? Did any one see him fall?" he
inquired.

"No, sir," answered Mr Norman. "We are confident that he was made
prisoner; but the belief is that the pirates, in revenge for the
destruction of their junks, would have cut off his head unless they were
induced to hold him as a hostage."

"I trust that the latter is the case, and that we may manage to get him
out of their hands," observed Captain Rogers. "But in my anxiety to
save him I must not neglect my duty. We must attack these fellows
without delay. Unfortunately they have had some time for preparations,
and will give us more trouble than would have been the case had not this
craft got on shore. I purpose, while the boats attack the junks, to
land the marines and storm the fort."

Captain Adair having come on board, Captain Rogers directed him to
accompany the marines with a small body of blue-jackets.

"I believe, sir, that we may be able to get to the rear of the fort from
a landing-place I discovered as I came along," said Mr Norman. "While
the _Gnat_ and the boats are assaulting the fort, we may hope to
approach undiscovered, and by coming suddenly on the pirates, should
your brother be still alive, we may be able to rescue him before they
have time to revenge themselves by killing him."

"I trust that you are right, Mr Norman, and that the poor fellow has
escaped, although from the pirates not having sent off a flag of truce
to treat for terms, I greatly fear that they have not kept him as an
hostage."

While the _Gnat_ sailed on Captain Rogers made the necessary
arrangements for the attack. She, with two of the largest boats, were
to bombard the fort, the rest of the flotilla were to board the junks,
with the exception of the boats under Mr Norman, who was to land with
their crews and some m