82 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

safety on other boats, thus retarding the advance of the
pirates very materially.

“Hurrah for our side!” Ben shouted, gleefully. «If
we can give them one more dose like that I reckon they
won’t be so anxious to come alongside; and he began
reloading with the utmost rapidity, Miss Dunham leaving
the helm long enough to bring him a supply of ammuni-
tion from the companionway as he finished swabbing out
the cannon.

A scattering fire of musketry was opened upon the
brig; but the flint-lock guns were not in proper working
order, nor were the yellow fellows remarkable for their
good marksmanship, consequently such of the bullets as
did not strike the water in the immediate vicinity of where
the weapons were discharged flew harmlessly among the
rigging, as if aimed at the sun.

Now the din of the drums and cymbals had ceased; the
shouts of fury with which the yellow pirates had tried to
animate their courage were changed to shrieks of pain and
terror; but that portion of the fleet which remained unin-
jured continued on with redoubled speed, understanding
full well that once they gained the deck the brig would be
theirs.

Ben was not an expert gunner, even though his first
attempt was so successful, and fully twice as many minutes
were occupied in charging the piece as would have been
required by any one familiar with such work.

There were yet a sufficient number of pirates dashing
onward to overwhelm the young captain and his “mate,”