They are bearing directly down upon us with a fair wind; they will be firing a gun presently, and then I shall lay to and wait for them." Mander stepped towards Dickory and Lucilla; his voice was husky as he said: "We cannot expect, my dear, that we shall again be captured by forbearing pirates.

I shall kill my wife and little daughter rather than they shall fall into the bloody hands of ordinary pirates, and to you, sir, I will commit the care of my Lucilla.

If this vessel is delivered over to a horde of savages, I pray you, plunge your dirk into her heart." "Yes," said Lucilla, clinging to the arm of Dickory, "if those fierce pirates shall attack us, we will die together." Dickory shook his head.

In an awful moment such as this he could hold out no illusions.

"No," said he, "I cannot die with you; I have a duty before me, and until it is accomplished I cannot willingly give up my life.