The Buffer cautiously raised a plank at the bottom of the boat, and drew forth, one after another, five cutlasses. These the pirates silently fastened to their waists. The boat moved slowly along; and in another minute it was by the side of the plague ship. The Resurrection Man stretched out his arm, and his hand swept its slimy hull. There was not a soul upon the deck of the _Lady Anne_; and, as if to serve the purposes of the river-pirates, the wind blew in strong gusts, and the waves splashed against the bank and the vessel itself, with a sound sufficient to drown the noise of their movements. The bow of the _Lady Anne_ lay high upon the bank: the stern was consequently low in the water. As cautiously as possible the boat was made fast to a rope which hung over the schooner's quarter; and then the five pirates, one after the other, sprang on board. "Holloa!" cried a boy, suddenly thrusting his head above the hatchway of the after cabin. Long Bob's right hand instantly grasped the boy's collar, while his left was pressed forcibly upon his mouth; and in another moment the lad was dragged on the deck, where he was immediately gagged and bound hand and foot. But this process had not been effected without some struggling on the part of the boy, and trampling of feet on that of the pirates. Some one below was evidently alarmed, for a voice called the boy from the cabin. Long Bob led the way; and the pirates rushed down into the cabin, with their drawn cutlasses in their hands. There was a light below; and a man, pale and fearfully emaciated, started from his bed, and advanced to meet the intruders. "Not a word—or you're a dead man," cried Long Bob, drawing forth a pistol. "Rascal! what do you mean?" ejaculated the other; "I am the surgeon, and in command of this vessel. Who are you? what do you require? Do you know that the pestilence is here?" "We know all about it, sir," answered Long Bob. Then, dropping his weapons, he sprang upon the surgeon, whom he threw upon the floor, and whose mouth he instantly closed with his iron hand. The pirates then secured the surgeon in the same way as they had the boy above. "Let's go forward now," cried Swot. "So far, all's well. One of you must stay down here to mind this chap." The Lully Prig volunteered this service; and the other pirates repaired to the cabin forward. They well knew that the plague-stricken invalids must be _there_; and when they reached the hatchway, there was a sudden hesitation—a simultaneous pause. The idea of the pestilence was horrible. "Well," said the foreman, "are we afraid?" "No—not I, by God!" ejaculated the Resurrection Man; and he sprang down the ladder. The others immediately followed him.