Very shortly a crowd of men appeared hurrying along the beach in our
direction, and, as we bore away for the passage, they saluted us with a
straggling musketry fire, more in impotent anger than for any harm it
could do us, for the shot all fell very far short. When about a quarter
of a mile from the entrance to the channel, I hove the cutter to, and we
hauled the punt alongside, took out one of her oars, and cast "Steve"
adrift from his lashings, leaving him to get ashore to his comrades as
best he might with one oar.

We then filled away once more, and ran down upon the boats, took them
all in tow, and stood out through the channel. Another volley of
musketry betrayed the irritation of the pirates at the sight of our
departure and the loss of their boats, to which Bob replied by giving
three ironical cheers. At this juncture Ella appeared on deck,
wonderfully surprised, of course, at all she saw, and I was at once
called on to explain. I did so, briefly narrating the circumstances of
Bob's fortunate discovery of the arrival of the _Albatross_ at the
island, of his having watched the crew all the previous day, of our
plan, and of the manner in which it had been carried out, pointing to
the burning brig as the issue of it all.

"Oh! Harry," exclaimed she, bursting into tears, "how _could_ you run
such a fearful risk! Only fancy, you two men venturing into the very
centre of these dreadful people's camp, and without arms too! Why, what
would have become of you if you had been taken? Really, I could almost
find it in my heart to be downright angry with you both. I cannot
understand men a bit. They seem--some of them--to have been born
absolutely devoid of the faculty of perception of danger, even when it
is staring them in the face; and accordingly they rush into the midst of
all sorts of perils, seemingly with a happy unconsciousness that they
are doing so, and with a heedlessness as to consequences which is
perfectly bewildering. No--now do not try to coax me, Harry, for I
really _am seriously_ angry with you. And to think, too, of your being
up all night, weak as you are! I am surprised that you are not ill
again. Oh, Harry," (with fresh sobs), "how thankful I am that you are
safe, and that I did not know anything of this until now! And do not
look grieved, darling; I did not mean what I said. It was very naughty
of me, I know, but I was frightened at the thought of the risks you have
run, and how all