a good deal of jesting at the success of their scheme, as the
crew ascended the rocks and addressed the man who had captured me by the
title of "Captain". They were a ferocious set of men, with shaggy
beards and scowling brows. All of them were armed with cutlasses and
pistols, and their costumes were, with trifling variations, similar to
that of the captain. As I looked from one to the other, and observed
the low, scowling brows that never unbent even when the men laughed, and
the mean, rascally expression that sat on each face, I felt that my life
hung by a hair.

"But where are the other cubs?" cried one of the men with an oath that
made me shudder. "I'll swear to it there were three at least, if not
more."

"You hear what he says, whelp: where are the other dogs?" said the
captain.

"If you mean my companions," said I in a low voice, "I won't tell you."

A loud laugh burst from the crew at this answer.

The pirate captain looked at me in surprise. Then drawing a pistol from
his belt, he cocked it and said, "Now, youngster, listen to me. I've no
time to waste here. If you don't tell me all you know, I'll blow your
brains out! Where are your comrades?"

For an instant I hesitated, not knowing what to do in this extremity.
Suddenly a thought occurred to me.

"Villain," said I, shaking my clenched fist in his face, "to blow my
brains out would make short work of me, and be soon over; death by
drowning is as sure, and the agony prolonged. Yet I tell you to your
face, if you were to toss me over yonder cliff into the sea, I would not
tell you where my companions are; and I dare you to try me!"

The pirate captain grew white with rage as I spoke. "Say you so?" cried
he, uttering a fierce oath.--"Here, lads, take him by the legs and heave
him in--quick!"

The men, who were utterly silenced with surprise at my audacity,
advanced and seized me; and as they carried me towards the cliff, I
congratulated myself not a little on the success of my scheme, for I
knew that once in the water I should be safe, and could rejoin Jack and
Peterkin in the cave. But my hopes were suddenly blasted by the captain
crying out, "Hold on, lads, hold on! We'll give him a taste of the
thumb-screws before throwing him to the sharks. Away with him into the
boat. Look alive! the breeze is freshening."

The men instantly raised me shoulder-high, and hurrying down the rocks,
tossed me into the bottom of the boat, where I lay fo