"How did you know she was a pirate?" inquired Charlie.

"I suspected her in the first place, from her rakish look. All pirate ships, you know, are made for speed. Besides, this particular ship had been described to me by a messmate who had once been on board a ship that was chased by her, though, luckily, before the pirate had a chance to overhaul her, two other vessels came in sight, and frightened her away.

"As soon as I made out the approaching vessel to be the Red Rover, I repented bitterly the signs by which I had drawn her attention. I ceased making signals, but it was too late. She had already seen me, and a boat was filling with men to take me on board. Finding I could not well help myself, I concluded to make the best of it, and not show any objection to going with the boat's crew. So when they came near, and hailed me, asking me who I was, I answered as[180] heartily as I could, 'Bill Sturdy, of the good ship Peregrine, bound for Havana.'

"'And what's become of your ship?'

"'Gone to the bottom,' I answered.

"'How long since?'

"'About twenty-four hours.'

"'How did it happen?'

"In reply, I told all the circumstances, without reserve, for concealment would have done no good.

"There was a little consultation on board the boat, and then the officer in command brought it up alongside my hen-coop, and ordered me aboard.

"This I did with as much alacrity as possible, and I tell you, my lad, it did seem good once more to be in a boat, even though it belonged to a pirate, after pitching about on a hen-coop for twenty-four hours.

"Now that I had a chance, I looked at the men that manned the boat. They were villainous-looking cutthroats—mostly Spaniards, with dark, lowering faces and forbidding expressions. I couldn't help turning it over in my mind, what they would be likely to do with me.

[181]

"It didn't take long to reach the pirate vessel. Those on board pressed forward, as I came up and got on deck. They were all pretty much alike. The captain was a large, stout, muscular man, though I believe," added Bill, with some complacency, "that I could have got the better of him in a regular rough-and-tumble fight. However, this isn't neither here nor there. He came up to me, and made me answer over again the same questions which had been asked me before. I answered them in the same way. After he had got through with his questions, he fixed his sharp, black eyes on me, and inquired, 'Do you know the name of the ship that has picked you up?'

"'I do,' said I, coolly, though I didn't feel as cool as I appeared.

"'Ha!' he exclaimed, in surprise. 'What is it?'

"'It is the Red Rover,' said I, making believe to be unconcerned.

"'And are you acquainted with its character?" said the captain, with another of his sharp looks.

"'I believe so,' said I.

[182]

"'Name it.'

"'I think it is a pirate,' said I, not moving a muscle.

"'Ha!' he exclaimed, looking at me rather curiously. 'Are you not afraid to find yourself on board a pirate?'

"'Why should I be?' I answered. 'But for you, I should have died on the hen-coop, and I suppose, if you had meant to take away my life, you wouldn't have taken the trouble to save me, since death was certain.'

"'A bold fellow!' said the captain, aside, to the mate. He spoke in the Spanish language, but I had managed to pick up some odd phrases in that lingo, so I knew what he was driving at. The mate seemed to agree, and they talked a little more. I didn't understand, but guessed it was about me.

"The pirate captain, after a short confab with the mate, turned round, and spoke t............