"Humph! Can't you raise her?"
"No, sir."
Captain Stoneman returned on deck without further words. He relieved the first officer and ordered him back to the gun aft. At almost the same moment, the forward gun, pointed high, spoke.
"That'll raise the Pioneer if she's around here," said Captain Stoneman aloud.
The aft gun also spoke now, and then both boomed again.
An instant later a cloud of smoke burst from the approaching vessel, followed by a heavy boom. A solid shot passed over the Algonquin and splashed in the water beyond.
"Humph!" said Captain Stoneman again. "Signal to heave to, eh? Well,
I can't afford to disregard it."
He signaled the engine room and the Algonquin a few moments later came to a stop.
"Now, come on, you pirates," mumbled Captain Stoneman. "Come on aboard and tell me what you want."
A boat put off from the raider, for such the strange vessel proved to be. It came toward the Algonquin rapidly.