394 PIRATES BEAT OFF. [Cuar. XXI. 
lying flat on their faces. They were so completely 
taken by surprise, that their junk was left without 
a helmsman; her sails flapped in the wind ; and, as 
we were still carrying all sail and keeping on our 
right course, they were soon left a considerable 
way astern. 
Another was now bearing down upon us as 
boldly as his companion had done, and commenced 
firing in the same manner. Having been so suc- 
cessful with the first, I determined to follow the 
same plan with this one, and to pay no attention to 
his firmg until he should come to close quarters. 
The plot now began to thicken; for the first junk 
had gathered way again, and was following in our 
wake, although keeping at a respectful distance ; 
and three others, although still further distant, 
were making for the scene of action as fast as they 
could. In the mean time, the second was almost 
alongside, and continued giving us a broadside 
now and then with their guns. Watching their 
helm as before, we sheltered ourselves as well as 
we could ; at the same time, my poor fellows who 
were steering kept begging and praying that I 
would fire into our pursuers as soon as possible, or 
we should be all killed. As soon as they came 
within twenty or thirty yards of us, I gave them 
the contents of both barrels, raking their decks as 
before. This time the helmsman fell, and doubtless 
several others were wounded. In a minute or two 
I could see nothing but boards and shields, which 
were held up by the pirates to protect themselves 
