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.
For an instant I contemplated rushing over the cliff into the sea,
but this I saw I could not now accomplish, as some of the men were
already between me and the water.

There was a good deal of jesting at the success of their scheme, as
the crew ascended the rocks and addressed the man who had captured
me by the title of captain. They were a ferocious set of men, with
shaggy beards and scowling brows. All of them were armed with
cutlasses and pistols, and their costumes were, with trifling
variations, similar to that of the captain. As I looked from one
to the other, and observed the low, scowling brows, that never
unbent, even when the men laughed, and the mean, rascally
expression that sat on each face, I felt that my life hung by a
hair.

"But where are the other cubs?" cried one of the men, with an oath
that made me shudder. "I'll swear to it there were three, at
least, if not more."

"You hear what he says, whelp; where are the other dogs?" said the