The low, black schooner was put about, and very soon she was disappearing over the darkening waters, her black flag fluttering fiercely high above her.
"Now, let us run," whispered poor Mary, who, although she had not seen everything, imagined a great deal; for as the pirates were getting into their boat she had opened her eyes and had counted them, and there were only nine beside the tall captain.
Abner thought that her advice was very good, and starting up out of the brushwood they hastened home as fast as their legs would carry them.
[Illustration: "Two of the pirates went down into the hole."-- p.

302.] The next day Abner seemed to be a changed man.

He had work to do, but he neglected it.

Never had such a thing happened before! For hours he sat in front of the house, looking up into the sky, counting one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Then he would twist himself around on the little bench, and count seven more.
This worthy couple lived in a small house which had a large cellar, and during the afternoon of that day Abner busied himself in clearing out this cellar, and taking out of it everything which it had contained.