would be happy to give us a passage to some of the civilized
islands, where we could find a ship sailing for England, or some
other part of Europe. Home, with all its associations, rushed in
upon my heart like a flood, and, much though I loved the Coral
Island and the bower which had now been our home so long, I felt
that I could have quitted all at that moment without a sigh. With
joyful anticipations we hastened to the highest point of rock near
our dwelling, and awaited the arrival of the vessel, for we now
perceived that she was making straight for the island, under a
steady breeze.

In less than an hour she was close to the reef, where she rounded
to, and backed her topsails in order to survey the coast. Seeing
this, and fearing that they might not perceive us, we all three
waved pieces of cocoa-nut cloth in the air, and soon had the
satisfaction of seeing them beginning to lower a boat and bustle
about the decks as if they meant to land. Suddenly a flag was run
up to the peak, a little cloud of white smoke rose from the
schooner's side, and, before we could guess their intentions, a
cannon-shot came crashing through the bushes, carried away several
cocoa-nut trees in its passage, and burst in atoms against the
cliff a few yards below the spot on which we stood.

With feelings of terror we now observed that the flag at the
schooner's peak was black, with a Death's head and cross bones upon
it. As we gazed at each other in blank amazement, the word
"pirate" escaped our lips simultaneously.

"What is to be done?" cried Peterkin, as we observed a boat shoot
from the vessel's side, and make for the entrance of the reef. "If