be, until we go to the bottom." I felt a glow about my heart on account of the kindness of my master, and especially when I found that he was aware of more than I thought he had discovered of my conduct while in London; but it was no time to indulge in a reverie of gratitude, when every moment I expected to hear a twenty-four pounder boom over our deck, and that, too, from the deck of a pirate, who did not chalk up mercy as one of his attributes. I went upon deck with our captain, and I had not been there for five minutes, when a shot from the pirate damaged our rigging. At the same time she hoisted the black flag. "It is all up, Bob," said our commander, addressing me; "let us die manfully. If I die first, sink the vessel before she fall into their hands." "Trust to me, captain," cried I; "I will see that all is right. We shall win the day, or go to the bottom." "Bravo! my hearty!" he exclaimed; "I wish you had been a sailor!" The action now began in good earnest, and was kept up on either side with unyielding determination. But they fired three guns for our one, and ever and anon they made an attempt to board us. Our crew consisted of but fourteen men and three boys--the commander, the mate, and myself included. The mate fell at the first broadside which our enemy poured into us. We maintained the unequal fight for near an hour, when our captain also fell, calling out to me--"Stand out, Bob!--sink her, or beat them!" "I will, captain!" cried I; but I don't believe that he lived to hear what I said to him. Our ship's company was reduced to five able men, and I lay amongst the wounded upon deck. We were boarded, overpowered in a moment, and our vessel became the prize of the pirates. The dead, and some of the wounded amongst our crew, were thrown overboard upon the instant. My appearance pleaded for me with the murderers, (even as I have said, appearance pleads with a prevailing intercession on most occasions in London,) and in a state of unconsciousness I was borne on board their vessel. When I raised my eyes and became conscious of my situation, the pirate captain stood over me. My wounds had been bound up, and I aroused myself, and rose up in pain as one awoke from a dream. "Your name!--your name!" said he, addressing me. "Ha! we are captured, then!" replied I; "my name is of small consequence--I am your victim." "Speak!" he cried vehemently--"you wrong me. You are our captives, but I wish to know _your_ name. You are an Englishman--are you from Cumberland?--Were you not at the school of old Dominie Lindores?" "I am--I was!" I gasped in agony. "And do you," he continued, "do you remember the boy, who, before he was eighteen, and while he was a boarder at the school, ran to Gretna with an heiress from a neighbouring seminary." "I do!--I do remember it!" I cried. "And what," he exclaimed--"_what was his name_?" "Belford!" said I.