Look alive lads.

Hand me the glass, Martin." The ship was close hauled when these abrupt orders were given, battling in the teeth of a stiff breeze, off the coast of South America.

About this time, several piratical vessels had succeeded in cutting off a number of merchantmen near the coast of Brazil.

They had not only taken the valuable parts of their cargoes, but had murdered the crews under circumstances of great cruelty; and ships trading to these regions were, consequently, exceedingly careful to avoid all suspicious craft as much as possible.

It was, therefore, with some anxiety that the men watched the captain's face as he examined the strange sail through the telescope.
"A Spanish schooner," muttered the captain, as he shut up the glass with a bang.