1531.3 The Spirit-Seeker. 603 



was done with good effect, while the guns of the privateer seemed to be 

 badly served, for their shot passed over us, or only divided a few- 

 ropes of very trifling importance. The enemy were getting the worst of 

 it, which probably they themselves thought, for they bore down upon us 

 with a design of coming to closer quarters. 



" Now, my boys," exclaimed the captain to his men, " stand to your 

 guns, and give it 'em, for the honour of Old England !" He was an- 

 swered by three cheers, as universal as ever came from a British vessel 

 preparing for action. Their shot came flying thick, but ours were re- 

 served for a more favourable opportunity. As soon as the ships' sides 

 were parallel, we poured in broadside after broadside, with the most 

 murderous effect, sweeping off her men from the deck by dozens. An 

 obstinate engagement ensued, but we avoided most of the danger arising 

 from her superiority of guns, by a series of skilful evolutions. Ourmen,^ 

 except those actively employed, lay down on the decks, and the fire of 

 the enemy did comparatively little mischief among them. The fight was 

 kept up with great bravery on both sides ; at last the privateer closed in 

 upon us ; her great object was now in boarding, her strength of men 

 giving her still an advantage. The ships w ere lashed together, under a 

 heavy fire of musketry, and the boarders came on sword in hand, where 

 they were met by our own brave men, and a desperate struggle ensued. 

 They fought hand to hand, and foot to foot, without either giving an 

 inch of ground. The hurrahs and shouts of tlie combatants, mingling 

 with the continual discharge of fire-arms, were truly deafening. The 

 enemy at last gave way before our determined resistance, and the gallmg 

 fire which was kept upon their decks by our top-men. This was an im- 

 portant crisis, and our men rushed on to the charge with renewed 

 vigour. Then I saw the strange being, whom I have before noticed as my 

 fellow-passenger, mingling in the thickest of the fight, and hewing down 

 like blades of grass all who opposed him. I followed in his wake, and 

 soon found myself on the deck of the privateer, where the conflict was 

 raging in its greatest fury. There our captain, though wounded, was 

 fighting like a lion, and urging his men, both by voice and action, to 

 follow "his example. The stranger and I fought side by side. Their re- 

 sistance seemed to grow fainter, except in one spot, where a group of 

 brave fellows were fighting round their commander, a man of gigantic 

 size and immense strength. We were soon among them, and I saw the 

 sword of my companion cleave the Frenchman's skull, and the strong 

 man sunk dead at his feet. After his death, the resistance ceased. She 

 struck, and became our prize. 



Our captain, after the engagement had terminated, came up and 

 thanked us for the assistance we had rendered him. The stranger 

 seemed to avoid all conversation, and what he said was spoken hurriedly, 

 as if anxious to conclude the subject. 



The prize we found of little service. A number of shot had taken 

 her between wind and water, her sails were reduced to shreds, and her 

 masts were most of them shattered to splinters. The carnage on board 

 was dreadful ; of nearly two hundred men, scarcely fifty reinained alive, 

 and most of them were wounded. We therefore secured the men and 

 valual)les, and deserted the ship. As for ourselves, we paid dearly for 

 our victory, for many were the brave but unfortunate men, I saw lashed 

 to the grating and consigned to the bowels of the deep. 



Little took place during the remainder of the voyage worth noticing. 



3 B 2 



