the old flag yet."

"Do you see yonder fellow at the wheel? If I did not know to the
contrary, I should say it is the very man who led the attack in St
Augustine's Bay," exclaimed the missionary.

"You are a dead rifle shot," replied the captain, speaking slowly and
deliberately, "are you not?"

Another hail from the schooner followed. She was now, as has been
already said, running under her mainsail and jib, and yet fore-reaching
on the brig though her main tack was hauled up, her crew once more
getting the eighteen-pounder ready to discharge before boarding.

"I am," replied Wyzinski, the schooner's hail being unanswered.

"Pick off that man when I raise my hand. Remember, sir," added the
captain, speaking sharply and sternly, "remember, sir, I am about to
play my last stake, and all depends on your aim."

Leaving Wyzinski, the seaman stood by the wheel, his eyes fixed on the
schooner. It was evidently her intention to pass under the brig's bows,
and range up under her lee using her gun before boarding. So near were
the two craft that a biscuit could have been thrown aboard either.

"Port a little. Luff you may, Porter--"

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the man. "Luff it is, sir," and the schooner
passed ahead.

"Now!" shouted the captain, raising his hand. The double report of
Wyzinski's rifle followed. The bulky Malay, shot through the back,
loosed his hold of the wheel, the spokes flew round as he threw up his
hands, and with one long unearthly yell fell forward dead on the deck;
the schooner, as Captain Weber foresaw, under the pressure of her
enormous mainsail, flying up into the wind, and almost crossing the
brig's fore-foot.

"Starboard! hard a-starboard!" roared the captain, as the whole fury of
the squall struck the two vessels. Dashing madly onward, the "Halcyon"
tore through the water as with one broad sheer to port she neared the
black hull. For a moment her decks seemed to overshadow those of the
doomed craft, while her broad bow, with all the force of the tempest
driving her, struck the schooner amidships.

"Hurrah!" shouted the master, in his excitement, "Hurrah! To Hell with
the pirates!"

The shock was tremendous, as the brig bore down her small antagonist
bodily, burying her beneath the sea. The crashing sound of splintering
wood followed, a hundred half-naked yelling figures were grouped on the
schooner's decks, the next a few floating spars lay astern, a few
drowning wretches cr