THE WORLD OF ICE. 15

“What do you think of her, Buzzby?” inquired
Captain Ellice, handing his glass to the seaman.

Buzzby gazed in silence and with compressed lips
for some time; then he returned the glass, at the
same time muttering the word, “ Pirate.”

“TI thought so,” said the captain in a deep, unsteady
voice. “There is but one course for us, Buzzby,” he
continued, glancing towards his wife, who, all uncon-
scious of their danger, sat near the taftrail employed
with her needle; “these fellows show no mercy, be-
cause they expect none either from God or man. We
must fight to the last. Go, prepare the men and get
out the arms. Tl tell my wife.”

Buzzby went forward ; but the captain’s heart failed
him, and he took two or three rapid, hesitating turns on
the quarter-deck ere he could make up his mind to speak.

“Alice,” he said at length abruptly, “yonder vessel
is a pirate.”

Mrs. Ellice looked up in surprise, and her face erew
pale as her eye met the troubled gaze of her husband.

“Are you quite sure, Frederick ?”

“Yes, quite. Would God that I were left alone to
—but—nay, do not be alarmed ; perhaps I am wrong,
it may be a—a clipper-built trading-vessel. If not,
Alice, we must make some show of fighting, and try
to frighten them. Meanwhile you must go below.”

The captain spoke encouragingly as he led his wife
to the cabin; but his candid countenance spoke too
truthfully, and she felt that his look of anxious con-
cern bade her fear the worst.