we'll fill you so full of holes you wouldn't float in molasses."

The watchmen wisely retreated before so overwhelming a force, and
rowed their boat along the channel toward where the shore should
be. Besides, it was in the plan for them to retreat.

We hauled the noses of the boats up on the shore side of a big
shoal, and all hands, with sacks, spread out and began picking.
Every now and again the clouds thinned before the face of the moon,
and we could see the big oysters quite distinctly. In almost no
time sacks were filled and carried back to the boats, where fresh
ones were obtained. Nicholas and I returned often and anxiously to
the boats with our little loads, but always found some one of the
pirates coming or going.

"Never mind," he said; "no hurry. As they pick farther and farther
away, it will take too long to carry to the boats. Then they'll
stand the full sacks on end and pick them up when the tide comes in
and the skiffs will float to them."

Fully half an hour went by, and the tide had begun to flood, when
this came to pass. Leaving the pirates at their work, we stole
back to the boats. One by one, and noiselessly, we shoved them off
and made them fast in an awkward flotilla. Just as we were shoving
off the last skiff, our own, one of the men came upon us. It was
Barchi. His quick eye took in the situation at a glance, and he
sprang for us; but we went clear with a mighty shove, and he was
left floundering in the water over his head. As soon as he got
back to the shoal he raised his voice and gave the alarm.