head and white shoulder.

"It's the Porpoise," Nicholas said. "It would take broad daylight
for us to catch him."

At a quarter to three the pirates gave their first sign of
weakening. We heard cries for help, in the unmistakable voice of
the Centipede, and this time, on rowing closer, we were not fired
upon. The Centipede was in a truly perilous plight. Only the
heads and shoulders of his fellow-marauders showed above the water
as they braced themselves against the current, while his feet were
off the bottom and they were supporting him.

"Now, lads," Charley said briskly, "we have got you, and you can't
get away. If you cut up rough, we'll have to leave you alone and
the water will finish you. But if you're good we'll take you
aboard, one man at a time, and you'll all be saved. What do you
say?"

"Ay," they chorused hoarsely between their chattering teeth.

"Then one man at a time, and the short men first."

The Centipede was the first to be pulled aboard, and he came
willingly, though he objected when the constable put the handcuffs
on him. Barchi was next hauled in, quite meek and resigned from
his soaking. When we had ten in, our boat we drew back, and the
second Whitehall was loaded. The third Whitehall received nine
prisoners only--a catch of twenty-nine in all.