"The best thing we can do with our oars is to keep ahead of them," answered the mate. "They are big craft, and would run this lugger down without ceremony." "And we will keep ahead of them," was the answer. "We will get out the oars, and try and make the _Janet_ walk along." In spite, however, of the strenuous efforts made by the _Janet's_ crew, it was too evident that the pirates, if such they were, were overhauling her, having a stronger breeze than she had got to send them through the water. A small island appeared on the starboard bow. The mate suggested that by landing there, they might escape into the interior, and save their lives. "Or be murdered by its inhabitants," said Lord Reginald, laughing. "We will trust to our own little craft. We shall get the breeze before long, and we will then see if we cannot distance our pursuers." There appeared, however, too much probability that his hopes would prove vain. The pirate fleet, of thirty vessels or more, each manned by some fifty or sixty cut-throats, was approaching nearer and nearer. Lord Reginald having had the muskets handed to him, loaded them carefully, and placed them by his side. "We will keep pulling to the last, and when they come within musket-shot, I'll pick off some of the fellows in the leading vessel. That will make them fancy we are better armed than we are, and they may not think it worth while to attempt capturing us." They were at this time passing to the southward of the island before mentioned. The breeze freshened, and the _Janet_ made better way than she had hitherto been doing. However, the pirates had already got almost within musket-shot, but Lord Reginald was unwilling to throw a charge away. At length, turning round and seeing that the leading pirate was within range, he fired. He quickly took up the next musket, and as he did so, he called to Dick to come aft and reload them. By the time the third musket was fired, Dick had loaded the first. A dozen shots had been fired, though it was difficult to ascertain the effect produced. By this time the _Janet_ had opened out the west end of the island, when Dick, looking up, just as he was handing a musket to Lord Reginald, exclaimed-- "A sail, a sail! and a man-of-war, too, standing down towards us, under every stitch of canvas she can carry." "She'll be up to us in twenty minutes more, and all we need do is to keep ahead of our pursuers," answered Lord Reginald, taking a glance at her, before firing the musket he had received from Dick. That glance, however, was sufficient to convince him that she was the _Wolf_.