80 



THE SEA. 



her point-blank ! " The shot was fired, but fell short of its aim, and the gunner was 

 cursed as a bungler. He then ordered them to load with canister-shot, and, waiting till 

 he was abreast of the vessel, discharged the gun himself with fatal accuracy, while one 

 of his men ran down the falsely-displayed British colours, and De Soto then himself 

 hauled up the Columbian colours, and cried out through the speaking-trumpet for the 

 captain to come on board. 



One can imagine the alarm on the Morning Star among the helpless passengers, when 

 they found that their captain had neither guns nor small arms. Although there were twenty- 

 five soldiers on board and a commanding officer, they were all cripples or feeble invalids. 

 The captain was, as will afterwards appear, a brave and true officer, but by a general 

 council, hurriedly held, he was advised to allow one of the passengers to volunteer for the 



DE SOTO CHASING THE "MORNING STAR." 



service of going on board the pirate ship. It may be imagined how he was received. 

 When they found that he was not the captain, they beat him, as well as the sailors with 

 him, in a brutal manner, and then sent him back with the message that if the captain 

 did not instantly come on board they would blow the ship out of the water. This, of 

 course, decided the captain, and he immediately put off in a boat, with his second mate, 

 three sailors, and a boy, and was rowed to the pirate ship. On going on board, De 

 Soto, who stood near the mainmast, cutlass in hand, desired the captain to approach, while 

 the mate was ordered to go forward. Both of these unfortunate individuals obeyed, 

 and were instantly massacred. 



A number of the pirates picked men were ordered to descend into the boat, Barbazan, 

 De Soto's right hand in villainy, accompanying them. To him the leader gave his orders 

 to spare no lives, and sink the ship. The pirates were all armed alike, each carrying a 

 brace of pistols, a cutlass, and a long knife. Their dress consisted of coarse chequered cotton, 

 and red woollen caps. They were all athletic men, and evidently suited for their sanguinary 

 work. A man stood by the long gun with a lighted match, ready to support the boarding, 

 if necessary, with a shot that would sweep the deck. The terror of the poor females and 



