boarding-pike,
and taking his place near Mr. Paterson, made it his business to be
ready to protect him so far as might be in his power. Nor did he fail
of an opportunity. In spite of the determined defence, a few of the
buccaneers forced their way on board, and one of them, a powerful
fellow, with the face of a tiger, made a rush upon Mr. Paterson, whom
he no doubt recognised as the person in command. At the moment Mr.
Paterson was looking in another direction, and the ruffian's cutlass
would infallibly have cloven his head had not Donalblane perceived the
peril in time to swing his boarding-pike across the buccaneer's shins,
bringing him headlong to the slippery deck, where Donalblane followed
him with another crack, this time on the skull, that rendered him
senseless and harmless for the time being.

Mr. Paterson knew nothing of his danger until the miscreant fell
clattering at his feet, and then he realised how narrow had been his
escape.

"God bless you, my boy!" he exclaimed fervently, throwing his arm about
Donalblane's neck. "I owe you my life. I shall never forget the
service you have done me."

Donalblane's face flushed with delight. He felt proud of himself and
proud of his patron. He would rather have saved his life than that of
any one else on board.

"I'm verra, verra glad, sir," he replied. "Losh! but he was a fearsome
creature. He thought fine he wad cut ye in two."

"Well, you have done for him, Donald. May we all do as well. Thank
Heaven we're still keeping the rascals off our decks!" and so saying
Mr. Paterson rushed into the thick of the fight again.

The stubborn, sturdy defence of the Scotsmen began to tell. Only a few
of their assailants had broken through their ranks, and these were
speedily put _hors de combat_. The buccaneers, who had judged from the
appearance of the _Bonnie Scotland_ that she would prove an easy prey,
were amazed by the number of men on board, and the fierceness with
which they fought. As one after another of their crew was killed or
wounded, their fury slackened, and when after half-an-hour's
hand-to-hand struggle they had gained no advantage, they were fain to
sheer off to reconsider the situation.

Hearty cheers rose from the _Bonnie Scotland_ as the buccaneer ship
sullenly slid astern. Donalblane, who had been so lucky as to escape
all injury, springing into the rigging, and waving one of the
buccaneer's blood-red kerchiefs as he shouted jeeringly-