at my heels."

"Nay, but," said I, "we will take you down, Peterkin, if you will
only trust us."

As I spoke, we observed the pirates scatter over the beach, and
radiate, as if from a centre, towards the woods and along shore.

"Now, Peterkin," said Jack, in a solemn tone, "you must make up
your mind to do it, or we must make up our minds to die in your
company."

"Oh, Jack, my dear friend," cried Peterkin, turning pale, "leave
me; I don't believe they'll think it worth while to kill me. Go,
you and Ralph, and dive into the cave."

"That will not I," answered Jack quietly, while he picked up a
stout cudgel from the ground. "So now, Ralph, we must prepare to
meet these fellows. Their motto is, 'No quarter.' If we can
manage to floor those coming in this direction, we may escape into
the woods for a while."

"There are five of them," said I; "we have no chance."

"Come, then," cried Peterkin, starting up, and grasping Jack
convulsively by the arm, "let us dive; I will go."

Those who are not naturally expert in the water know well the
feelings of horror that overwhelm them, when in it, at the bare
idea of being held down, even for a few seconds, - that spasmodic,