AN UNWILLING CREW. 81

the ship. If they get away it will be the worse for us;
but I count on their being too much afraid of our revolv-
ers to attempt anything of the kind.”

« Shall I take the wheel now?” |

«Yes, although she has hardly got steerage-way on.
Simply hold her steady. I believe I'll have one shot at
those fellows while they are at long range. Where did
Eliphalet go?”

«Tl saw him dive into the galley as soon as the pirates
began to yell,” the young lady replied with a merry laugh,
which did more toward nerving Ben for the inevitable
struggle than words could have done, for it showed that
she at least could so far conquer her fears as to appreci-
ate anything which appealed to her as being comical.

The enemy were not more than three hundred yards
away when Ben trained his ancient cannon carefully, and
said to the young girl who was now standing at the helm:

“You had better go below a moment ; there’s no know-
ing what may happen when the thing is discharged.”

“T belong here if I’m to be the helmsman, and here I
propose to stay, no matter what the captain may say.”

«Well, I like your pluck, but I can’t say very much for
your prudence,” Ben replied, grimly, and then the piece
was discharged, the three prisoners watching quite as
eagerly the effect of the shot as did their captors.

The first discharge was an unqualified success.

A shower of grape-shot went hurtling into the foremost
of the frail sampans, sinking two instantly, and shattering
three to such a degree that their crew were forced to seek