274 FOR THE FLAG

I jumped up and hurried out.

The pirates were running in the direction of the corridor.
At the entrance stood Ker Karraje, Serk6, Spade, Gibson,
Effrondat, and Count d’Artigas’ Malay. .

I soon learned the cause of the excitement. The
watchers had just come in and raised the alarm.

Several ships—men-of-war—were to be seen towards
the north-west, coming at full steam towards Backcup.