Part 27 (2/2)

In each boat, it should have been said, there were foursteady ai to kill or wound sos, which would have been an advantage to the pursuers had they been acquainted with the navigation, but the fear of running on any rocks or sand-banks made them keep directly astern of the junks Presently a shot struck one of Tom's men, and another knocked an oar to pieces

This of course caused so a point Tom saw that the junk he had been ordered to board was in the act of running ashore in a small bay at the further side, while the other two junks continued their course, pursued by the lieutenant and Desmond Toer escape hiside; but as he and his men clambered up on deck the pirates rushed forward, leaped down over the bows on to the beach, and began toround froained, discovered that the creek ran at the back of the fort, but how far off he could not tell

”We ers wants so out, and was about to lead the way over the bohen Tim Nolan exclaimed, ”The villains have set their craft on fire

She'll be after goin' off like a sky-rocket in anotherthat Tim's words were likely to prove true

The whole party quickly tu to be first Tom was the last to leave his prize, and folloith no little reluctance

Shoving off, they pulled away in the direction they had before been going, to assist, if necessary, the other boats They had not got far, however, when Toht of some of the pirates who had landed

They halted, and appeared as if they intended to return to the stranded junk In their hurry they had thron their gingalls, and were armed only with their swords

”Wein his boat, he jumped on shore, followed by the marines and four seae of the rest of the crew

Off the little party dashed, hoping without difficulty to capture so their pursuers to a distance fro on considerably ahead of hissome rocks laid three of their number low The rest halted to return the fire of their concealed eneainst which their bullets were flattened, without doing further execution Before they could re-load a party of desperadoes sprang out, and seizing To with the every instant to feel the point of a sword, or its edge, at the back of his neck The survivors of his party charged bravely, hoping to recover hi that they would all be cut off, they retreated towards the boat They would even now probably have been attacked had not Billy, showing unusual discretion on hearing the firing, landed with the rest of thepirates What was his dis

”Where is Mr Rogers?” he exclaiot hold of him,” answered Tim, who had reluctantly returned ”If we are quick about it, and the rest can coers, at all events”

Billy and the rest of theforhen they came to the three men who had fallen One was dead, but the other tere still living, though unable to walk They entreated that theythat the pirates had disappeared, judged that there would be no use in pursuing them, and he remembered also that he had been directed to re, therefore, Nolan's remark, Billy ordered the men back to the boat Just at that instant the junk, from which their attention had been diverted, and which had been in flames fore and aft, bleith a loud explosion, portions of the frag close to them

”Shove off!” cried Billy; ”not a moment must be lost”

His crew pulled away after the lieutenant and Des the two junks, of obtaining their assistance and going in search of Toht, Billy discovered the junks, nearly a ht gli the bushes, in the direction, as far as he could judge, of the fort Both junks had, therefore, been captured Billy only hoped that the pirates had not atte trains to their h he half expected, before he reached the junks, to see theerness to save his other shi+pive way!” he cried ”They will all be sent up like sky-rockets if we don't warn them in time”

The seaer as fully as he did

As he got near he shouted out, ”Back, back to the boats, or you will all be blown up!”

”No fear about that, now,” answered Des fusee, sure enough, but took good care to throw it overboard Hallo! where's Rogers?” he exclai down into the boat

”Gone! The pirates have got hold of him, and may probably have cut his head off,” answered Billy

”Gone! His head out off!” cried Des his messmate's account; ”How did you come aithout him?”

”We could not help it,” answered Billy, in a melancholy tone ”We should all have been killed if we had not We have as it is lost two poor fellows knocked over, and four wounded That shows that we did not give up the atteers while there was a chance of success”

”Pull round and report to Mr Noro with you,” said Des into Billy's boat

The lieutenant was, of course, greatly grieved ”We must try and ascertain his fate, at all events You did not see his head cut off?”