THE WORLD OF ICE. 19

schooner. The gun had been fired more as a reply of
defiance to the pirate than with the hope of doing him
any damage; but the shot had been well aimed-—it cut
the schooner’s main-sail-yard in two and brought. it
rattling down on deck. Instantly the pirate yawed
and delivered a broadside; but in the confusion on
deck the guns were badly aimed, and none took effect,
The time lost in this manoeuvre, added to the erippled
condition of the schooner, enabled the West Indiaman
to gain considerably on her antagonist; but the pirate
kept up a well-directed fire with his bow-chasers, and
many of the shots struck the hull and cut the rigging
seriously, As the sun descended towards the horizon
the wind fell gradually, and ceased at length altogether,
so that both vessels lay rolling on the swell with their
sails flapping idly against the masts.

“They’re a-gittin’ out the boats, sir,” remarked John
Buzzby, who, unable to restrain himself any longer,
had crept upon deck at the risk of another reprimand ;
“and, if my eyes be’n’t deceiving me, there’s a sail
on the horizon to wind’ard—leastways, the direction
which wos wind’ard afore it fell calm.”

“She’s bringing a breeze along with her,” remarked
the captain, “but I fear the boats will come up before
it reaches us. There are three in the water and
manned already. There they come. Now, then, call
up all hands,”

In a few seconds the crew of the West Indiaman
were at their stations ready for action, and Captain
Ellice, with Fred at his elbow, stood beside one of the