and if we fight, it's true, we may be killed ; but then there exists a strong hope of our being successful in beating her off. Which do you choose ? To fight or strike ?'
" To fight,' they cried out, with one accord.
" I thought so, my boys,' said he, rubbing his hands with 6 pleasure ; and depend upon it, I'll stand by you to the last.` Give them all a glass of grog, steward ; and then to your guns, my hearties. It's my intention to run the villain down, if possible ; and there's a squall rising to windward that may second the attempt. So keep your ears open, and listen to orders.'
" Our crew went briskly to the guns, and all was ready for action in a short time. Not many minutes had elapsed, when the schooner ranged up under our lee, at some little distance 6off, and brailed up her fore-sail, as she was ahead too rapidly. Lay your main-topsail to the mast, and send a boat with your skipper aboard of us !' hailed a tall figure, from her quarter deck.
" See you d-d first !' was the polite retort. Blaze away, men !' and at the word, an iron shower burst forth from our lee guns, and swept, hurtling and hissing, over the deck of the pirate, dealing death and destruction in every direction ; for the men had loaded the guns nearly to their muzzles with every missile they could lay their hands upon. It was manifest that the reception they had received was wholly unexpected on the part of the pirates ; and that our volley had thrown them into complete confusion, as the discharge from their long gun did us no injury, and their fire of musketry was irregularly main "Now is your time, my boys !' exclaimed, and badly aimed. claimed the captain ; our smoke has blinded their eyes ; and here comes the squall Jump over to windward, some of you, and round in the weather-braces. Hurry, men-hurry ! Hard a-weather the helm- for life, hard a-weather ! Belay the braces ! Forward, men- all of you--and cut down every soul who attempts to board ! Show the dogs no mercy !'
My friend had been leaning, cutlass in hand, against the main rigging, while these scenes were transpiring, eyeing the schooner with a frowning brow, and apparently husbanding his forces for a more favourable opportunity. The squall came rattling down upon us, and the brig, falling off from the wind, in obedience to the helm, and impelled by the increasing blast, darted forward with redoubled speed, like a courser from the spur. The pirate, perceiving our intention, endeavoured to haul his fore- sheet aft, but it was too late. Onward we came, with the speed of light-the waters flashing and foaming under our bows, and the masts bending like reeds. With a startling shock, the brig struck the schooner just abaft the fore-shrouds,
M2