"Yes, the gin'ral's right," said Dinny. "But I have my doubts of their intentions," said Jack. "And so have I--big doubts," said Dinny; "so I won't thrust them." "I don't think they've come in search of you," continued Jack. "Not come in search of us?" said Abel, excitedly. A shot rang out from the distance, followed immediately by another. "That proves it," said Jack. "It is a shooting party." "Av course it is," cried Dinny, laughing. "I could have told ye that, only I didn't think of it. It's the pigs they're after, and they're making free wid our flocks and herds." "What a relief!" said Abel, wiping the sweat from his brow. "What shall we do next?" "Keep in hiding; but I'll climb up till I can see their cutter. It may be near our boat." "A born gin'ral," said Dinny, giving his head a roll and gazing approvingly at Jack. "There'll be two or three left in charge of their boat, and--what would you do next?" Jack held up his hand, and softly retraced his course up the steep slope; and they could trace him from time to time by the waving of the leaves, but he went so cautiously that he was not seen once; and while they kept their eyes fixed upon one spot the bushes and leaves were seen to rustle softly some distance higher up. Then they saw no more, but lay listening to the distant shouts and firing which reached their ears again and again, till, to the surprise of all three, Jack suddenly came upon them from behind. "Well?" said Abel, eagerly. Jack could not speak for a few moments, being breathless with exertion. "Three men left with the cutter and they are ashore, lying upon the sands." "Abel," said Jack, after a long, thoughtful silence, "we shall never be safe here with these people coming from time to time." "No; that settles our plans. We must take the boat and go." "Why not take our enemy's vessel? We could sail where we liked then." "Didn't I say he was a born gin'ral?" cried Dinny, enthusiastically. "Take their boat!" said Abel. "They're three men, and we're three," said Bart, in a low growl. "Four!" cried Dinny, excitedly. "Ye never see how Masther Jack can foight." "Hush!" said the latter, sternly. "The men are lying about half asleep. If we waited, we might get on board, cut the anchor rope, and drift out with the tide perhaps without rousing them." "And if it came to the worst we could fight," said Abel. "Are ye ready?" whispered Dinny. "See that your piece is well primed. My shtick's loaded, and I'm ready to fire it off." "Hush!" said Jack, sternly. "I will climb up to where I can watch the men, and if they go to sleep I will wave a branch. Then creep up to me, and we may succeed without trouble." The proposal was agreed to at once, and a long, tedious time of waiting ensued, at the end of which Bart bared his arm. "We're strong enough for 'em," he whispered. "Let's go at once and fight it out."