eck.

"Ah, Sir James," he commenced, taking off his hat, "how do you do? How
dark you are! Why, what's all this?" he exclaimed in surprise and
terror, as he made out the strange uniforms in the dim light. He
hesitated a moment, and then stepped back hastily to the gangway,
lifting his hand.

"Seize him," cried a stern voice, "shoot him if he makes a sound."

The captain of the unlucky schooner was soon dragged, struggling and
astonished, to the break of the poop.

"Oh, Sir James, what is the meaning of this outrage, sir, on a British
ship-master? I shall report--"

"Silence, sir, this is the American Continental ship Ranger, and you
are a prisoner," replied the same voice. "Answer my questions now at
once; your life depends on it. What are these ships to leeward?"

"Sixteen merchantmen from London, to Halifax, under convoy of two
men-of-war, sir."

"And what are they?"

"The Acasta, thirty-six, and the Juno, twenty-two, sir."

"Very good; is the transport Mellish among them?"

The man made no reply.

"Answer me."

"Ye--yes, sir."

"Which is she?"

"Oh, sir, I can't tell you that, sir; she is the most valuable ship of
them all," he said incautiously.

"You have got to tell me, my man, if you ever want to see daylight
again; which is she?"

"No, sir, I can't tell you," he replied obstinately.

"Put the muzzle of your pistol to his forehead, Williams, and if he
does not answer by the time I count ten, pull the trigger. One, two,
three, four--"

"Mercy, mercy," cried the frightened skipper, as he felt the cold
barrel of the pistol pressed against his temple.

"Eight, nine--" went on the voice in the darkness, imperturbably.

"I'll tell, I'll tell."

"Ah, I thought so; which one is she?"

"The last one, sir."

"And the Juno?"

"The fourth from the rear; the frigate 's the first one, sir," he
volunteered. "Oh, don't kill me, gentlemen."

"Have you told me the truth, sirrah? Williams, keep your pistol there."

"Oh, sir, yes, so help me; oh, gentlemen, for God's sake don't murder
me. I've a wife and--"

"Peace, you fool! We won't hurt you if you 've told the truth; you
shall even be released presently and have your schooner again--we don't
want her; but if you have lied to me, you shall hang from that yard-arm
in the morning, as sure as my name is John Paul Jones."

"O Lord!" said the now thoroughly frightened man, looking up and
meeting the gaze of two eyes which gleamed in the