Not many months prior to the date of our tale, the Avenger happened to have occasion to run down to the Isle of Palms. Gascoyne was absent at the time. He had been landed at Sandy Cove, and had ordered Manton to go to the rendezvous for supplies. On nearing the isle a storm arose. The wind was fair, however, and the schooner ran for her destination under close-reefed sails. Just before reaching it they fell in with a large full-rigged ship, which, on sighting the schooner, ran up her flag half-mast high, as a signal of distress. She had sprung a leak, and was sinking.
Had the weather been calmer, the pirates would have at once boarded the vessel and carried her as a prize into the harbor; but the sea ran so high that this was impossible. Manton therefore ran down as close to the side of the merchantman (for such she seemed to be) as enabled him to hail her through the speaking-trumpet. When sufficiently near he demanded her name and destination.
"The Brilliant, from Liverpool, bound for the Sandwich Islands. And you?"
"The Foam--from the Feejees--for Calcutta. What's wrong with you?"
"Sprung a leak; is there anchorage in the bay?" sang out the captain of the merchantman.
"No; it's too shoal for a big ship. Bear away round to the other side of the island. You'll find good holding ground there. I'll show you the way."
The pirate accordingly conducted the unsuspecting stranger away from the only safe harbor in the island, and led him through a complete labyrinth of reefs and rocks, to the bay on the other side, in which he knew full well there was scarcely enough of water to float his own little schooner.
With perfect confidence in his guide, the unfortunate captain of the merchantman followed until both vessels were in the comparatively still and sheltered waters of the bay. Here Manton suddenly put down the helm, brought his vessel up to the wind, and allowed the stranger to pass in.
"Hold on about sixty fathoms further, and then let go your anchor," he shouted, as the ship went steadily on to her doom.
"Aye, aye, and thank'ee," cried the captain, who had already taken in nearly all sail and was quite prepared to anchor.
But Manton knew that before twenty fathoms more should be passed over by the ship she would run straight on a coral reef, which rose to within about five feet of the surface of the sea. In an exposed place this reef would have formed a line of breakers; but in its sheltered position the water gave no indication of its existence. The gale, though not blowing direct into the bay, entered it in a sufficiently straight line to carry the ship onward with great speed, notwithstanding the reduction made in her canvas.