CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CAPTURE AND THE FIRE.
Eight days after the rescue of Henry Stuart from a horrible death, as related in the last chapter, the Talisman found herself, late in the afternoon, within about forty hours' sail of Sandy Cove.
Mulroy had visited the Isle of Palms, and found that the pirates had flown.

The mate of the Avenger and his companions had taken advantage of the opportunity of escape afforded them by Gascoyne, and had hastily quitted their rendezvous, with as much of the most valuable portion of their booty as the boat could carry.

As this is their last appearance in these pages, it may be as well to say that they were never again heard of.

Whether they perished in a storm, or gained some distant land, and followed their former leader's advice,--to repent of their sins,--or again took to piracy, and continued the practise of their terrible trade under a more bloody-minded captain, we cannot tell.

They disappeared as many a band of wicked men has disappeared before, and never turned up again.