eath?"
thought Tom; "but she will hear it soon enough when we get to the fort."

While he was discussing the matter in his own mind, she turned to him
and said--

"They tell me my husband has been killed; if it is true, I hope that
some of your people will take care of me. He was a dreadful tyrant; and
now, after having lost all his wealth, he would have treated me even
worse than before."

This remark showed Tom that all his sympathy had been thrown away. The
young lady greatly puzzled him when she proposed that he should marry
her. He was too polite to refuse at once, but remarked "that English
midshipmen were not allowed to have wives on board, and that he would
not think of such a thing without asking his captain's leave."

This appeared to satisfy her, and they continued walking along side by
side very amicably, till Tom heard a voice exclaim, "Why, there's Tom
Rogers, all alive and merry!"

Immediately several of his messmates rushed out of the fort to greet
him. A party were at once despatched to make prisoners of the pirates
who were hiding behind the rock, and who were shortly afterwards brought
in.

Preparations were now made for destroying the pirates' strong hold. The
prisoners were handcuffed and carried on board the junks, with a guard
placed over them. The _Gnat_ meantime got up her steam in readiness to
tow out the captured junks. The Malay girl kept close to Tom, evidently
considering him her protector, and he, of course, in gratitude, could do
nothing less than attend to her, and as soon as a boat could be obtained
he took her off to the _Gnat_. He explained her wishes to Jack.

"We must carry her to Chusan, where I dare say she will find friends,"
said Jack; "but you must let her understand that I cannot give you
permission to make her your bride."

The girl pouted when she heard this, but being evidently of a
philosophical turn of mind, soon appeared reconciled to her lot. A
considerable amount of booty was found in the fort, the most valuable
portion of which was embarked in the captured junks. In the mean time
the guns of the fort, several of which were of brass, and of
considerable value, were carried on board the gun-boat. Some powder
having been landed and placed in advantageous positions for blowing up
the fort, a train was laid, and as soon as all the party had embarked,
it was fired.

The junks with the prisoners on board were taken in tow by the _Gnat_,
while the other