Loud, indeed, was the startled exclamation of the astonished British commander as he surveyed his unexpected damages.
"'Pon my soul!" he said. "That pirate is going to get away from us. This is too bad, altogether!"
His sailors sprang to do what they might for the wreck, but the appearance of things was unpromising.
"Good for you, Up-na-tan!" said Captain Avery. "That shot tells for old practice. I guess I'd better make you captain of that gun."
"Ole chief keep gun," replied the Indian. "Find gun shoot straight. Good!"
"I'm mighty glad o' that," said the captain. "I mean to train every hand on board, though. We may get stuck where we can't afford to miss a shot. Straight shootin' is better than the heaviest kind o' shootin' that doesn't hit."
The breeze was increasing finely, and away went the swift privateer. She had escaped from her first pursuer, and not far ahead of her, now, were pretty surely her next batch of perils.