half-a-
mile, for I thought it very unlikely that the pirates would then attempt
to overtake us by swimming--the only means of pursuit they now had--even
if an alarm were given; but everything still remained perfectly
tranquil, and continued so until we had rounded the low point so often
mentioned: after which, of course, we _were_ unable to see anything
which transpired in the bivouac.

We decided to take the boats, five in number besides the punt, over to
the mouth of the channel, and anchor them there until we could pick them
up again on our way out in the cutter, and then go back after our canoe,
so as to prevent the possibility of her falling into the hands of the
pirates. Whilst doing this, Bob volunteered an explanation of his
motives for attacking the pirate.

"I see'd all you done, Harry," he observed, "and thought as everything
were going right, until that fool of a feller took it into his head to
come down to the beach. I stowed myself away as well as I could under
the quarter of the punt--but if his eyes hadn't ha' been choked up with
sleep he must ha' see'd me. Hows'ever, he didn't, and when he turned
round to go back, thinks I, `It wouldn't be a bad idee to put a stop to
them wanderin' habits of yourn,' thinks I; `we should be in a pretty
mess if you was to come down ag'in, afore we'd got fairly off with them
there boats;' and almost afore I knowed what I intended to do, I'd crept
up behind him and flung my arm tight round his neck, with my knee well
into the small of his back, and down he comes. He tried to sing out,
but the minute he opened his mouth I rammed my handkercher down his
throat, and that kept him as quiet as a mouse; and so he's like to be
till morning, when I reckon he'll find hisself just about in the centre
of a hobble, with these here boats all gone, and the brig afire fore and
aft, please God. D'ye think I did right, lad?"

"Excellently," I replied; "nothing could possibly have been done better.
Now, here we are, and there goes the anchor. Now, let's stretch away
as hard as we can for the canoe; we have been longer than I bargained
for over this business, and we shall have daylight upon us before we are
finished if we do not look sharp."

I now told Bob what I had heard the pirate say, and that, from his
remarks, I gathered that "old Steve" was the only man left on board the
brig.

I arranged with Bob that he was to answer in the event of the said "old
Steve" hailing us as w