of the best quality. Muskets and pistols, claymores and short swords, battle-axes and boarding-pikes, they wer

he prospect of a fight, snatched up a sword, which he

, looking up eagerly into the grave face of Mr. Suth

, many of whom were evidently in a state of unmanly terror, an

p our heads. There are

a match for the enemy, whose numbers would probably not exceed one hundred. But the utter lack of discipli

n neglected during the voyage, but were now hastily got in order and double-shotted u

d evidently manoeuvring to approach astern so as t

trick, and at once changed his vessel'

ye think. He kens your wicked

oyage, could not help now admiring the consummate skill with which he handled his c

obtaining the advantage sought. Thus the two vessels dodged about among the white-caps, for a strong breeze was blowing, until a

ty stood beside the carronades, waiting his word. He did not speak until the buccaneer was not more than a hundred yards distant, and then the capta

gether!

un, injuring the foremast so that it showed signs of tottering, and killing and wounding a number of the scoundrels, who were evidently not expecting so heavy a broadside. Certainl

at'll teach them to leave honest folk alone, eh?"

erson, who just then chanced to be passing. "That is only first blood for us.

made her escape while the buccaneer was repairing damages. But it was not in her to d

ut, the buccaneer, for some reason, reserved her fire. Perhaps, having no doubt as to the iss

cotland, and, in spite of the latter's efforts to avoid the onset, bore down upon her

heart. Every countenance seemed that of an incarnate fiend, rendered more hideous by the blood-red handkerchief which was their only head-cov

ommand, fired his pistols one after the other into the yelling horde of scoundrels. With what effect he never knew, for the next instant all was the wildest confusion, the men of

it his business to be ready to protect him so far as might be in his power. Nor did he fail of an opportunity. In spite of the determined defence, a few of the buccaneers forced their way on board, and one of them, a powerful fellow, with the face of a tiger, made a rush upon Mr. Paterson, whom he no doubt recognised as the person in command. At the moment Mr. Paterson was

he miscreant fell clattering at his feet, and t

ing his arm about Donalblane's neck. "I owe you my lif

of himself and proud of his patron. He would rather

d. "Losh! but he was a fearsome creatur

ank Heaven we're still keeping the rascals off our decks!" and

dged from the appearance of the Bonnie Scotland that she would prove an easy prey, were amazed by the number of men on board, and the fierceness with which they fought. As one after another of

rn. Donalblane, who had been so lucky as to escape all injury, springing into the ri

e got your fill? Ye'll ken better than t

uch faster than he had climbed up. Considering the heat of the conflict it was remarkable how slightly the defenders of the Bonnie Scotland had suffered. Three killed, and a dozen wounded, none of them mortally, made up the list of ca

God who had given them the victory. The women and children, who had been shut in the cabins during the fight, came out to