Shouts, and oaths, and cries were now heard on every side. Captain Jack placed Ellen Harmer in the boat, and, with a furious countenance, he rushed into the thickest of the fray. Blows were freely exchanged on both sides, and many were wounded. “Are all the men safe?” said Captain Jack to Bates. “Yes; they are all near by.” “Then let them stand in a line, and face the enemy.” “What, fight and fall back to the boats?” “Of course,” said Jack. “What else do you mean? Do you think that I or any of the lads would turn their backs to the enemy? You are a pretty fellow to be captain, truly.” As Jack advised, all his companions faced the intruders, and gradually fought their way back to the boat, which was now well laden with spoil. The fight still continued; but many of the lights became extinguished in the combat, so that the officers and others who had come to arrest the masked strangers began to fight among themselves. Perceiving the confusion among them, Captain Jack ordered his comrades to jump into the boat. They did so. Not one of them was killed. But several were severely wounded. As they pushed off from the shore, those in the garden fired a volley after them, and raised a loud shout. “Pursue the rascals! Get a boat and overtake them!” cried several voices. But no one dared to follow the bold and daring robbers. Down the river they swiftly rowed. And, after some time, landed at a dark, dingy, treacherous-looking wharf. This was a place used by the Dozen occasionally to store their plunder. They all got on shore safely. But while they stood in the darkness, a boat darted past the wharf. “That’s some of our pursuers,” said Jack, “we hadn’t much time to spare.” “No,” said Bates, “it was rather sharp work take it altogether.” “Look! look!” said Jack, “here comes a second boat. By all that’s lucky they are going to land at our wharf.” “Boat ahoy!” shouted Bates. “Ahoy! ahoy!” was the response. “Have you seen any craft shoot past here?” “What, one with a lady in it?” shouted Jack, in feigned voice. “Ye-e-s,” was the distant answer. “Just shot down before you. You can’t mistake it; row fast. Fire into ’em, it will soon bring the rascals to their senses.” True to this advice the second boat shot after the first at a rapid rate. Ere long shots were fired in the distance. “Hang me!” said old Bates, in high glee, “if one boat ain’t fighting the other. Why, the fellows are all gone mad!” “No matter,” said Captain Jack; “we have got the lady. Is she safely housed, Bates?” “Yes, but very pale and weak, poor creature. She couldn’t make out who and what we were with those masks on, so I had to tell her we were a party of friends who had leagued together for her deliverance.” “Very good; but, of course, you didn’t tell her that we had leagued together to get four or five sacks full of plunder, eh?” “Not very likely.”