"Are they still on board her?" asked Commander Olding.

"As to that, sir, I cannot say," answered Dillon; "but our captain was in good humour, and may have spared their lives, though I will own it is not always his custom to let his prisoners live. He ordered me, with the hands you found on board, to take charge of the prize, and to follow him as soon as I could get her into seaworthy trim."

Gerald was satisfied that one part of Dillon's statement was correct, as on examining the cabin he could find none of his sister's trunks, nor any in either his father's or Captain O'Brien's cabins, although nothing else had apparently been removed from the ship. What the intention of the pirate was with regard to them, it was impossible to say. Dillon could throw no light on the subject. Mr Foley expressed his hope that the pirate intended to treat them mercifully, and perhaps, he thought, would land them at some place whence they could find their way to Jamaica, or to put them on board any vessel they might fall in with bound to that island.

This idea of Mr Foley's greatly relieved Gerald's mind, and he again began to hope that he should have the happiness of once more seeing them. The commander gave him permission to visit Dillon, so that he might try to ascertain the fate of Owen Ma.s.sey.

"Though you were among those who dragged me on board the king's ship, I bear you no ill-will," answered Dillon. "I will therefore tell you that I saw Owen Ma.s.sey, alive and well, not ten days ago. He was then on good terms with the pirate captain, but I cannot answer for what may happen when the young lady appears on the scene. She may perchance prove to be an 'apple of discord.' The captain has an eye for beauty, and from what I have heard, Owen Ma.s.sey is engaged to marry your fair sister."

"How do you know that?" asked Gerald, surprised at the man's remark.

"We hear all sorts of things, and such an idea was current among our fellows," answered Dillon in a careless tone, which somewhat excited Gerald's anger.

"You have given your promise to try and rescue Owen Ma.s.sey and any of his companions, as well as my father and sister, and their friend Captain O'Brien," he observed.

"I have promised to do my best to help them, and I intend to keep to that promise," answered Dillon.

Villain as he knew the pirate to be, Gerald was now satisfied that the lives of his father and Norah had been preserved.

Soon after dawn the next morning a light breeze sprang up, which enabled the _Research_ to get under way. As soon as she was clear of the reefs, Dillon was brought on deck, and desired to inform the master what course to steer in order to reach the pirate's stronghold. Look-outs were stationed aloft and at each fore-yardarm, that any dangers ahead might be seen and avoided, the commander not trusting alone to Dillon's pilotage.

"With this light wind it will take us three days at least to reach 'Tiger Key;' that is the name the buccaneers have given their stronghold," said Dillon. "It is a place no one, even when looking for it, would be likely to find, unless he knew the landmarks well, or came upon it by chance, and they will not thank me for leading you to it. I must trust, sir, to your not only sparing my life, but protecting me afterwards, for if I fall into their hands they will murder me to a certainty."

These remarks were addressed to Mr Tarwig, to whom the pirate seemed more inclined to be communicative than to any one else.

"What makes you so ready to deliver your late companions into our hands?" asked the first lieutenant. "I thought that buccaneers were always faithful to each other, although at war with the rest of the world."

"In the first place, sir, I wish to save my life--that would be sufficient reason for what I have undertaken," answered the pirate; "and, then," he added, a dark scowl coming over his countenance, "I have sworn vengeance against those who have offended me. I had a quarrel with the captain, whom, though I am his equal, I was ready to serve. He treated me with contempt, and refused to trust me. However, it is a long story, and I will not trouble you with it now. What I say will convince you that I intend to be faithful, and that it will not be my fault if you fail to capture the pirate and his followers."

"And who is this buccaneering captain of whom we have heard so much of late years?" asked Mr Tarwig.

"He goes under different names, sir; and, although I may happen to know his right one, you will excuse me if I decline to tell it," answered Dillon, the dark frown still resting on his brow as he spoke.--"His present followers know him as Manuel Bermudez; but he has not a drop of Spanish blood in his veins, I can answer for that."

What Dillon said convinced Mr Tarwig that he could be trusted in carrying out their project. It was arranged that on approaching Tiger harbour he should appear to have the command of the ship, and that only as many men as had been left on board by the pirates should be seen on deck, all of them dressed as the pirate crew had been, and that the remainder should lie down concealed under the bulwarks, or remain below ready to spring up at a moment's notice. Commander Olding intended, on entering the harbour, to run up alongside the _Ouzel Galley_ and capture her, and then to turn his guns on the people on sh.o.r.e should any resistance be offered. Dillon a.s.sured him that no forts existed on sh.o.r.e for the defence of the harbour, the pirates trusting entirely to the intricacy of its navigation.

The _Research_ stood on for a couple of days more, close-hauled, frequently having to tack to avoid the rocks and reefs to the westward.

Without the greatest possible care she might easily have shared the fate of the _Champion_. As she got to the northward the difficulties of the navigation increased. Dillon, however, proved himself to be an able pilot. He smiled as he saw the pistol which one of the warrant officers held constantly at his head, as if he considered the precaution a very unnecessary one.

"n.o.body desires to see the _Research_ safe inside Tiger harbour more eagerly than I do," he observed. "Should the ship strike on a reef, it will not be my fault."

"A sail on the weather-bow!" shouted the look-out from aloft.

"What is she like?" asked Mr Foley, who had charge of the watch.

"A small boat or canoe under sail, sir," was the answer.

Gerald, who was on deck, was sent by Mr Foley with a spy-gla.s.s aloft to take a look at the boat. "If she steers as she is now doing she will pa.s.s, I take it, a couple of miles from us, sir," he cried out.

The commander, who just then came on deck, upon hearing this, ordered the ship to be put about to cut off the boat. At the same time the colours were hoisted, so that should the people in the boat be English, they might know that the ship was a friend. A considerable amount of curiosity was excited as to what a small boat could be about in these little-frequented seas, and all the gla.s.ses on board were turned towards her. As she had now altered her course and was standing towards the ship, she was rapidly neared, and five people were counted on board her.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE OUZEL GALLEY OVERTAKEN BY A HURRICANE--DRIVEN TOWARDS THE COAST OF CUBA--THE MAINMAST STRUCK BY LIGHTNING--FIRE--OWEN EXTINGUISHES THE FLAMES--CLOSE IN WITH THE COAST--A STRANGER SEEN--A MUTINY ON BOARD-- CHASED--THE OUZEL GALLEY BOARDED BY PIRATES--O'HARRALL RECOGNISES OWEN, AND SPARES HIS AND HIS FOLLOWERS' LIVES--THE OUZEL GALLEY CARRIED TO THE PIRATE'S STRONGHOLD--OWEN AND HIS COMPANIONS IMPRISONED IN THE STORE-- OLD MAMMY KEEPS STRICT WATCH--O'HARRALL'S CHANGEABLE TEMPER--PLANS FOR ESCAPING--MONTHS Pa.s.s BY--FRESH GUARDS SET TO WATCH THEM--HEAR OF THE LOSS OF THE EAGLE--THE PIRATES STILL IN THE OUZEL GALLEY--OWEN AND HIS FOLLOWERS ESCAPE IN A CANOE--SEE THE OUZEL GALLEY--AVOID HER--GET ON BOARD THE RESEARCH.

When Owen Ma.s.sey sailed from Montego Bay, he had hoped to escape all enemies and make a rapid pa.s.sage to Waterford; but those hopes were doomed to disappointment. Scarcely had the _Ouzel Galley_ pa.s.sed Bellevue than signs of a coming gale from the westward were perceptible.

So partial, however, are the disturbances of the atmosphere in that region, that Owen kept the ship under all sail in the expectation of being able to run out of it before it reached him. Still he was too good a seaman not to take the necessary precautions. All hands remained on deck, while he continually turned his eye to windward, to be ready to shorten sail immediately it became absolutely necessary. As the day drew on, the blue mountains of Jamaica grew less and less distinct.

Should the gale overtake him, it was of the greatest importance to gain a good offing, for in mid-channel he would not have much to fear. The _Ouzel Galley_ was a stout ship, and, if well handled, might brave the fiercest hurricane. The log was hove. She was making between eight and nine knots, a speed she could not often exceed. The wind was well aft and all her sails filled. His hopes of escaping the gale continued.

After some time, however, he saw that the dark bank of clouds which had long been visible above the horizon was rising more rapidly than at first. Then ma.s.ses detached themselves and came rushing across the sky, breaking into numerous portions, like the riflemen of an advancing force feeling their way through an enemy's country. Still he carried on to the last moment.

"In studding-sails!" he suddenly shouted. "Let fly royal and topgallant sheets!"

The first-named sails were speedily hauled down. The crew then hurried aloft to hand the others, which were fluttering in the wind.

"Three reefs in the topsails!" was the next order given.

A strong crew alone could have performed the operation as rapidly as it was got through. The courses were next brailed up. Still the ship flew on as fast as previously before the rising gale.

"Bedad! and it's my belafe that we're going to have old Harry Cane on board," observed Dan to Pompey.

"You not far wrong dere," answered the black. "Cappen Ma.s.sey know what him about. I'se sooner be 'board _Ouzel Galley_ when a hurricane blowing dan on board many a king's ship, when de cappen tink he berry wise an' carry on till de masts go ober de side."

"Troth! an' ye're right there, Pompey, my jewel! We'll be afther running out of the harricane, and sorra the worse will we be."

The confidence felt by the young master's two faithful followers was shared by most of the crew.

The _Ouzel Galley_ behaved admirably; she ran on before the fast-rising seas roaring up alongside. The wind whistled in her rigging, and bright flashes of lightning darted from the black clouds now gathering thickly overhead.

As the night drew on the wind increased, and it was now blowing a regular hurricane; still, as long as there was plenty of sea room, no danger was to be apprehended, unless indeed, the ship should be struck by lightning, against which no skill or seamanship could guard. No one on board could hide from himself that such might possibly occur, as the flashes succeeded each other with still greater and greater rapidity, the lightning frequently running along the yards, now playing round the mast-heads, now darting over the foaming seas in snake-like forms. In the intervals between the flashes, so dense was the darkness that the eye failed to see half across the deck, and had another vessel been overtaken, the _Ouzel Galley_ might have run her down before she could have been perceived. The canvas had been reduced to a single close-reefed fore-topsail, which so tugged and strained at the mast that every instant it seemed as if about to be torn out of the bolt-ropes.

As long as the wind blew from the westward or south-west, the ship could run on with safety till she had got to the eastward of Cuba, and before that time there was every probability of the hurricane ceasing. Her only safe course was to keep directly before it, for if she were to bring the seas abeam, they would to a certainty sweep over her and carry everything before them.

Owen remained on deck, holding on to a stanchion, while two of his stoutest hands were at the wheel. For some hours he had stood at his post, feeling no apprehension of danger, when towards the end of the middle watch the wind shifted suddenly to the southward, blowing with even greater fury than before. The helm was put a-starboard, and the _Ouzel Galley_ was now running towards the dangerous coast of Cuba.

There was no help for it; but Owen expected, as is often the case during a hurricane, that ere long the wind would again shift.

For a short time there was a comparative lull, and all on board hoped that the gale was breaking.

"We shall be able, I am thinking, sir, to make sail and haul off from the sh.o.r.e by morning," observed his first mate. "It is well not to get nearer the Cuba coast than we can help. There are not a few low keys and sandbanks to bring us up; or one of the enemy's cruisers may be spying us, and it would give us a job to get away from her."

"As to that, I am not much afraid," answered Owen. "I shall be thankful when the hurricane is over and we can stand on our course."

The hurricane, however, was not over. Again the wind struck the ship with tremendous force, the lightning, as before, playing round her, crackling and hissing as it touched the wildly tossing waves. Suddenly there came a frightful crash. The splinters flew on every side, and the tall mainmast, tottering for a moment, fell over the side, breaking away the bulwarks--either it or the lightning which had riven it killing three men who were standing near. In its fall it carried away the mizen-mast.

"Fire! fire! the ship is on fire!" shouted several voices. "Put it out, then, my lads, and clear away the wreck," cried Owen, seizing an axe which hung inside the companion-hatch, he himself setting the example, which was followed by his mates and several others.

While one party was engaged in cutting away the shrouds and running rigging, so as to let the blazing ma.s.s fall into the water, another was handing up buckets and throwing water over the stump of the mainmast.

The wreck of the mast being got rid of, the flames on deck were soon extinguished; but a cry came from below that the heel of the mast was on fire.