I told you he was a bold fellow; but I did not think he was quite so bold as to attempt _this_!" To do Gascoyne justice, he told the plain truth here; for, having sent a peremptory order to his mate, by John Bumpus, not to move from his anchorage on any account whatever, he was not a little surprised as well as enraged at what he supposed was Manton's mutinous conduct.

But, as we have said, his feelings were confined to his breast; they found no index in his grave face.
Montague suspected, nevertheless, that his pilot was assuming a composure which he did not feel; for from the manner of the meeting of the two vessels, he was persuaded that it was as little expected on the part of the pirates as of himself.

It was with a feeling of curiosity, therefore, as to what reply he should receive, that he put the question, "What would Mr.Gascoyne advise me to do _now_ ?" "Blow the villains out of the water," was the quick answer.

"I would have done so before now, had I been you." "Perhaps you might, but not _much_ sooner," retorted the other, pointing to the guns which were ready loaded, while the men stood at their stations, matches in hand, only waiting for the broadside to be brought to bear on the little vessel, when an iron shower would be sent against her which must, at such short range, have infallibly sent her to the bottom.
The mate of the pirate schooner was quite alive to his danger, and had taken the only means in his power to prevent it.

Close to where his vessel lay, a large rock rose between the shore of the large island and the islet in the bay which has been described as separating the two vessels from each other.