In this shawl were placed two pairs of pistols and a
heavy cutlass. He wore a beard and moustache, which, like the locks on
his head, were short, curly, and sprinkled with grey hairs.
"So, youngster," he said with a sardonic smile, while I felt his grasp
tighten on my shoulder, "the villains have been balked of their prey,
have they? We shall see, we shall see. Now, you whelp, look yonder." As
he spoke, the pirate uttered a shrill whistle. In a second or two it
was answered, and the pirate boat rowed round the point at the Water
Garden, and came rapidly towards us. "Now, go, make a fire on that
point; and hark'ee, youngster, if you try to run away, I'll send a
quick and sure messenger after you," and he pointed significantly at
his pistols.
I obeyed in silence, and as I happened to have the burning-glass in my
pocket, a fire was speedily kindled, and a thick smoke ascended into
the air. It had scarcely appeared for two minutes when the boom of a
gun rolled over the sea, and looking up, I saw that the schooner was
making for the island again. It now flashed across me that this was a
ruse on the part of the pirates, and that they had sent their vessel
away, knowing that it would lead us to suppose that they had left
altogether. But there was no use of regret now. I was completely in
their power, so I stood helplessly beside the pirate watching the crew
of the boat as they landed on the beach.
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