"O! be not afraid to say any thing before me, captain. I am not easily frightened, and if you have to fight I will help you." The bright eyes of the girl as she spoke grew brighter, and her little hand was clenched as if it held a sword. Casting a glance of admiration toward the beautiful girl, Captain Horton leisurely filled his pipe from his waistcoat pocket, and replied as he lit it-- "Well, I'm inclined to think it's what we call a pirate, my fair lady." "A pirate," sung out John, "a pirate, boo-hoo! oh dear! we shall all be ravaged and cooked, and eaten. O dear! why didn't I marry Susan Thompson, and go to keeping an inn--boo-hoo!" "John," said his master, "be still, or if you must cry, go below." The servant made a manly effort, and managed to repress his ejaculations, but could not keep back the large tears which followed each other down his cheeks in rapid succession. "Can't you run from her, captain?" asked the merchant. "Have you no guns aboard?" inquired Julia. "I see you are for fighting the rascals, Miss Julia, and I own that would be the pleasantest course for me; but you see, we can't do it. The company don't allow their vessels enough fire-arms to beat off a brig half their own size--there's no way but to run for it, and these rascals always have a swift craft--generally a Baltimore clipper, which is just the fastest and prettiest vessel in the world, if those pesky Yankees do build them--but the Betsy Allen aint a slow craft, and we'll do the best we can to show 'em a clean pair of heels." "You are to windward of them, captain," said Julia. "Yes, that's true; but these clippers sail right in the teeth of the wind; see, now, how they've neared us--ahoy!--all hands ahoy!" "Ay, ay, sir." "'Bout ship, my boys--let go the jibs--lively, boys; now the fore peak-halyards. There she is--that throws the strange sail right astern; and a stern chase is a long chase."