“There were none there, or from the top of the hill we should assuredly have made them out, Sir Louis.”

“Then the pirates —­ if this be, as I hope, their work —­ must have landed at some other point on the island, and if they catch sight of us they may make for their ship and slip away, unobserved by us.  Instead of rowing direct, therefore, we will make for that islet to the right, and row round behind it.  There are two others almost adjoining it.  Once past these, ’tis not more than half a mile to that island stretching away south.  Once round that, we shall be beyond the one from which we see the smoke rising, and can come down on its southern side.  The course will be double the distance that it would be if we took a straight line, but except when we cross from island to island we shall not be exposed to their view, and may fall upon their ships before the crews have returned from their work of plunder.”

The knights fully agreed, and orders were given to the helmsman accordingly.

“We must not over fatigue the rowers,” the commander said.  “We may have a long chase if they have started before we get round.”

He therefore gave orders to the slaves that, while they were to exert themselves to the utmost when crossing the open sea, they were to relax their efforts and to row within their strength while coasting along behind the islands.  On board, everything was made in readiness for a fight:  the knights buckled on their armour, the cooks set cauldrons of pitch over the fire, the cannoneers loaded her eight guns.  It was an hour and a half after their start before they rounded the end of the last island.  It extended a little farther to the south than did that to which they were making, and as they rounded the point, eager looks were cast in search of the pirate ships.  No craft were, however, to be seen.

“They must be in some bay or inlet,” the commander said; “they can hardly have left, for it would have taken them half an hour at least to cross the island with their booty and captives, and even if they made straight away after having fired the village, their ship could have gone no great distance, for we must have seen her if she put to sea —­ unless indeed they were anchored on the east of the island, and have sailed in that direction.”

“Keep them rowing along steadily,” he said to the overseers of the slaves; “but do not press them too hard.  We may have a chase yet, and need all their strength, for most of these pirates are fast craft, and if they should get a start of three or four miles, it will be a long row before we catch them.”

They made straight for the island, and on nearing it coasted along its southern side.  It was some three miles long, the shore being for the most part steep, but here and there falling gradually to the water’s edge.  Two or three little clusters of houses could be seen as they rowed along; one of these was on fire.