"A gun was fired."
"At this ship?"
"No, it was a signal."
"What for?"
"Bertha, it is as well that you should know. We are putting out to sea."
"Then you deceived me?"
"No, Bertha; but a man-of-war is chasing us."
"And we shall all be killed."
"I hope not. We shall have to fight."
"Not with me on board?" she asked, with a little frightened scream.