While he was speaking, I looked round, and saw two of the most ruffianly of the crew standing close to us, with pistols cocked in their hands, held quietly down by their sides.  I hoped that our captors had not overheard what Jerry had said.  I touched him as if by chance on the shoulder, and after his eye had glanced at the pistols he said nothing more about making signals to the corvette.  Our position was every instant growing more and more critical.  If the pirate captain was seized on board the man-of-war, it was impossible to say how his followers might wreak their vengeance on our heads.  We watched him with no little interest, till he ascended with perfect coolness the side of the ship.  Our anxiety still further increased, after he reached the deck and disappeared below.  Minute after minute slowly passed by, still he did not return.  The pirates with their pistols got up closer to us, and one, a most hideous black fellow, kept looking at us and then at his weapon, and grinning from ear to ear, as if he was mightily eager to put it to our heads and pull the trigger.  We tried to look as unconcerned as possible, but I must own that I could not help every now and then turning round, to ascertain in what direction the muzzle of the pistol was pointed.  The black and his companion looked so malicious, that I feared, whatever occurred, we should be the sufferers.  If Captain Bruno escaped, we should still remain in captivity; or should he be suspected and detained, probably the pirates would revenge themselves on us.  I was afraid of speaking, and almost of moving, lest, even should I lift an arm, it might be construed into the act of making a signal, and I might get a bullet sent through my head.  The American corvette, with her spread of white canvas, looked very elegant and graceful as she lay hove-to, a short distance from us.  I wished very much that I was out of the pirate, and safe on board her, even though the former might get free away without the punishment she deserved.  But all such hopes, it appeared, were likely to prove vain.  After the lapse of another ten minutes Captain Bruno himself appeared on deck.  As he stood at the gangway, he shook hands cordially with some of the officers.  He seemed to be exchanging some good joke with them, for he and they laughed heartily when he went down the side, and stepped into the boat.  As he pulled back to the schooner, he waved his hand, and took off his hat with the most becoming courtesy.  "Well," thought I to myself, "certainly impudence will sometimes carry the day."