As he spoke the loud rushing sound of the shot broke upon their ears; and a moment later it struck the sea about three yards astern of the _Flying Fish_, sending a column of white, steam-like foam and spray shooting some twenty feet into the air. Almost instantly another shot followed, which, judging from the sound, must have passed close over the pilot-house roof; to be followed, a few seconds later, by a third, which struck the water within a fathom of the ship's sharp nose, which was just level with the water's surface, and, owing to the speed of the ship, was sending up a fine, perpendicular jet of glassy water some ten feet high. "Confound the fellow's impudence!" exclaimed Sir Reginald. "Does the rascal think that he is going to make a prize of _us_? A fine rich prize we should make, too, did he but know it!" "It is not that," explained Mildmay. "It is the white ensign that he doesn't like the look of. He probably takes us for some new-fangled sort of British gun-boat, bent upon interfering with his little game; and he wants to disable us. He is one of those pestilently persistent fellows who won't take a hint and sheer off; he is as full of obstinacy as was the mammoth that chased me over yonder,"--with a jerk of his thumb toward the north--"on our first trip, and must be treated as we treated that mammoth. For if we don't kill him, he will kill us--if he can. You see? Here comes another shot!" It was a very close shave that time, the missile passing so close athwart the front of the pilot-house that its wind actually came, in a sudden, violent gust, in through the pilot-house window. "We must put a stop to this at once, or the fellow will do us a mischief," exclaimed Mildmay. "Kindly take the helm for a moment, Sir Reginald, if you please." Sir Reginald at once stepped to the tiller and laid his hand on it. "Where am I to steer for?" he asked. "Head for the liner, in the first instance," answered Mildmay, as he threw the self-steering apparatus out of gear; "and then bring the ship's head very gradually round until you are pointing for the pirate's stern."