Several names were mentioned, although some of them, I knew, were those of the men who had been sent to the stockade; but all were agreed that Ned Slater was amongst the six missing seamen.
A stern look overspread Captain Jeremy's bronzed features. The loss of the chart, and the unaccountable disappearance of a man of whom I had expressed my distrust, had considerably shaken our Captain's faith in his former shipmate; but, controlling himself, he ordered the men to embark, for the boats had by this time gained the shore.
Although we hurried on board there was no unseemly haste or panic, and as each man came up over the side he took his place in his allotted position.
Captain 'Enery, having handed over the command to Captain Jeremy, returned to the Neptune, where, as on board the Golden Hope, the magazines had been opened, and powder and shot placed alongside the guns, ere we came off.
The wind blew steadily straight on shore, so that we hoped the strange vessels had not heard the guns fired as the return signal, though, as most merchantmen carried small guns for this purpose, the discharge, even had it been heard, would not have led the enemy to suppose that our vessels were well armed.
Meanwhile we lost no time in improving our posture of defence. Captain Jeremy sent away the long-boat with a kedge slung underneath her, to which was attached a long hawser, leading over the ship's stern. The kedge was then dropped, and by taking a strain on the cable the Golden Hope was brought to lie broadside on to the mouth of the harbour. A similar manoeuvre was also carried out on board the Neptune, so that all our available ordnance, or as many as there were gun ports for, were trained on the approaching vessels, though as yet the guns had not been run out.
In breathless silence we awaited the oncoming ships, for, by Captain Jeremy's orders, not a shot was to be discharged, nor a shout raised, from either brig till the word was given to open fire.
When just outside the inner reef the leading vessel rounded, and as she did so her ensign became visible. It was the skull and crossbones.
"She means to leave us no longer in doubt," exclaimed Captain Jeremy. "I am right glad that she has shown yonder flag, for it seems they take us for harmless traders, and would terrify us into surrender."
Even as he spoke a cloud of smoke burst from the pirate's side amidships, and a twelve-pound ball whizzed betwixt our masts, striking our lee bulwarks and knocking up a shower of splinters; then, rebounding, it plunged into the sea within a few yards of the shore.