“All this time I had lost sight of Captain Munson. Now I glimpsed him, just in time to see him leap into the main chains and from thence on to the bulwarks of the pirate ship. His face was fixed and terrible and held an expression of desperate resolve. Cutlass in hand, he fought his way through the demoralized pirates and at last I saw, in a flash of understanding, his purpose. His object was to find out, and kill with his own hands, the pirate chief. Hardly had I realized this before the men encountered each other. Apparently the pirate recognized Munson instantly, for I saw him recoil as if he had seen a ghost. But the next instant he had recovered and began to fight desperately for his life. “In the meantime some of our crew had cut the two vessels apart, and before any of us recovered his wits and started to the captain’s rescue the two craft had drifted so far asunder that it was impossible. With horrified fascination we watched the fight, and if it held us spellbound it appeared to have the same effect on the pirate crew; at any rate, none of them interfered. “Such a furious fight could not, in the nature of things, last long, but it came to an altogether unexpected conclusion. Captain Munson’s cutlass had broken off short and he closed with his enemy, grasping him about the waist. They both reeled backward—and suddenly vanished from sight. A hatchway had been left open, and in their blind fury neither had noticed it. Tripping on the coaming, they had plunged into it. “Suddenly we heard a shot from the pirate craft, and then came a great cry. I could not make out what all the yelling was about, and turned to Sterling who seemed equally spellbound at the horror of the thing we had just witnessed. “‘What is it? What are they saying?’ I demanded. “‘They are shouting that the magazine is on fire!’ he exclaimed, ‘that a shot fired by the Englishman has ignited the powder!’” “The words had hardly left his lips before a hot blast rushed full at me. I was knocked from my feet, saw a vast sheet of flame before me, and knew no more. When I came to I discovered Sterling bending over me. His face was very grave and serious. “‘What has happened?’ I asked weakly. “‘The pirate ship is blown up,’ he replied; ‘not a vestige of her is left.’ “‘And Captain Munson?’ I demanded, although I knew what the reply would be. “Sterling removed his cap; a last tribute to a brave man. ”‘Has gone with her to Jones’ locker,’ he rejoined; ‘maybe it was better so. It would be just about here that his wife and baby died.’” Captain Andrews paused. So ended his story, which cast a gloom over the party that was not to be dispelled. Soon after, therefore, they retired, with the picture of the sea captain’s tragic death still vividly before their eyes.