iced us in here," Will said, "there is no doubt about
that, and now there is nothing to do but to fight it out. Take her head
round," he said, "we will settle it with the cutter first. The schooner
cannot come to her assistance for some minutes as she has all her sails
furled."

Accordingly he ranged up to the new-comer, and a furious contest ensued.
He engaged her with two broadside guns and the long-tom, and at the same
time kept his other two guns playing upon the schooner, the crew of which
were busy getting up sail. The long-tom was served by Dimchurch himself,
and every shot went crashing through the side of the pirate cutter, the
fire of the two broadside guns being almost equally effective.

"Keep it up, lads," Will shouted; "we shall finish with her before the
other can come up." As he spoke a shot from the long-tom struck the
cutter's mainmast, which tottered for a moment and then fell over her side
towards _L'Agile_, and the sails and hamper entirely prevented the crew
from working her guns. For another five minutes the fire was kept up; then
the crew were seen to be leaping overboard, and presently a man stood up
and shouted that she surrendered. The schooner was now coming up fast.

"Don't let her escape," Will shouted; "she has had enough of it, and is
trying to get away. Run her aboard!" In a minute the two vessels crashed
together, and headed by Will, Harman, and Dimchurch, _L'Agile's_ crew
sprang on board the schooner.

The pirate crew were evidently discouraged by the fate of their consort
and by the complete failure of their plan to capture _L'Agile_. The
captain, a gigantic mulatto, fought desperately, as did two or three of
his principal men. One of them charged at Will while he was engaged with
another, and would have killed him had not Tom Stevens sprung forward and
caught the blow on his own cutlass. The sword flew from the man's hand,
and Tom at once cut him down. Dimchurch engaged in a single-handed contest
with the great mulatto captain. Strong as the sailor was he could with
difficulty parry the ruffian's blows, but skill made up for inequality of
strength, and after a few exchanges he laid the man low with a clever
thrust. The fall of their leader completed the discomfiture of the
pirates, most of whom at once sprang overboard and made for the shore,
those who remained being cut down by the sailors.

When at last they were masters of the ship the crew gave three lusty
cheers. But Will di