But in spite of this the party worked well, and the sailor having surrendered, contented himself, as soon as he was aboard, by lying down upon the deck and beginning to chew. The grapnel was hauled in, the jib hoisted, and Jack stationed at the tiller; but the sail slowly flapped to and fro, refusing to fill, and the only way on the cutter was that given by the falling tide. "She'll be aboard of us, Bart, long before we get out of the bay," said Abel, with a groan of despair. "Niver say die," cried Dinny, who had just given a turn to the painter which held the cutter's boat. "Are there any arms aboard?" growled Bart. "Cuss it! look there!" This last was consequent upon a shot ploughing a little channel along his neck. "D'yer hear what I say--you?" he said again to their prisoner. "Are there any arms aboard?" "Yes, in the cabin--muskets," said the sailor; "but you leave 'em alone, my lad. This here as you've done's piracy, and if you kill anybody it's murder." "Then let 'em keep off," said Bart, with a fierce growl as he followed Abel into the cabin, both reappearing again directly with muskets and ammunition. "I tell you it's piracy," said the sailor from where he lay. "Isn't it, Dennis Kelly?" "Faix, I s'pose it is," said Dinny, smiling. "There's so much in a name." "Here you, Dinny, get up a musket," cried Abel. "You can shoot." "Don't you, Dinny!" said the sailor. "It's hanging business." "But I'm a prishner," said Dinny, grinning, "and obliged." "It'll be a hanging matter, Dinny," cried the sailor, as the Irishman reappeared with a musket in his hand. "It'll be a flogging sure if I'm took," said Dinny, "for they'll niver belave I'm acting against my will. Now, Captain Abel," he continued, as he loaded his piece, and laid it so that he could command the boat, "whin you ordher me to fire, why, av coorse I shall, but you must take the credit of the shot." "Keep off!" roared Abel, as the boat now neared them fast. "You'll get bullets instead of buckshot: you come nearer." "Surrender, you piratical scoundrel!" roared the overseer. "Put down that musket. Row hard, my lads!" Whatever may have been the overseer's weakness, want of courage was not one; and this he proved by discharging his piece, and standing up in the boat to watch the effect. The distance was short, but there was a faint puff of air now which filled the sail, and there was a feeling of intense relief as the cutter rapidly left the coming boat behind. Jack's cheeks flushed, and his eyes sparkled as, with a touch of the tiller, he seemed to send the cutter rushing through the water; while an angry yell rose from behind as the boat dropped back. But their despondency in the boat was only of a minute's duration, for the wind dropped as suddenly as it had risen, the cutter ceased to glide onward with the water rattling and splashing beneath her bows, the jib shivered and hung motionless, and a cheer arose from the pursuers as the firing recommenced.