But hold on, lads; come arter me, an I'll steer you to where she is at this moment." "Thanks be to God," said Mr.Mason, with a deep sigh of relief.

"Lead on, my man, and, pray, go quickly." Bumpus at once led the way to the foot of the cliffs, and went over the ground at a pace that satisfied even the impatience of the bereaved father.
While this was occurring on the mountain slopes, the pirates at the foot of the cliffs had discovered the three children, and finding, that no one else was near, had seized them and carried them off to a cave near to which their boat lay on the rocks.

They hoped to have obtained some information from them as to what was going on at the other side of the island; but, while engaged in a fruitless attempt to screw something out of Corrie, who was peculiarly refractory, they were interrupted, first by the yells of Bumpus and his pig, and afterwards by the sudden appearance of Henry and his party on the edge of a cliff a short way above the spot where they were assembled.

On seeing these, the pirates started to their feet and drew their cutlasses, while Henry uttered a shout and ran down the rocks like a deer.
"Shall we have a stand-up fight with 'em, Bill ?" said one of the pirates.
"Not if I can help it; there's four to one," replied the other.
"To the boat," cried several of the men, leading the way; "and let's take the brats with us." As Henry's party came pouring down the hill the more combatively disposed of the pirates saw at glance that it would be in vain to attempt a stand.

They therefore discharged a scattering volley from their pistols (happily without effect), and, springing into their boat, pushed off from the shore, taking the children along with them.
Mr.Mason was the first to gain the beach.