PIRACY. 493 
creasing the longer I was at sea, and when we arrived off 
the coast of Florida, my feelings were like those of another 
man. 
It was toward the evening of the fourteenth day, two hours 
before sun-set, that we espied a sail astern of us. As twilight 
came, it neared us with astonishing rapidity. Night closed, 
and all around was impenetrable darkness. Now and then a 
gentle wave would break against our bow and sparkle for a 
moment, and at a distance behind us we could see the un- 
even glow of light occasioned by the foaming of the strange 
vessel. The breeze that filled our canvass was gentle, though 
it was fresh. 
We coursed our way steadily through the night ; though 
once or twice the roaring of the waves increased so suddenly 
as to make us believe we had passed a breaker. At the time 
it was unaccountable to me, but I now believe it to be occa- 
sioned by the bark behind us, coming rather near in the dark- 
ness of the night. At midnight I went on deck. Nothing 
but an occasional sparkle was to be seen, and the ocean was 
undisturbed. Still it was a fearful and appalling darkness, 
and in spite of my endeavors I could not compose myself 
At the windlas, on the forecastle, three of the sailors, like 
myself, unable to sleep, had collected for conversation. On 
joining them, I found our fears were mutual. They all kept 
their eyes steadily fixed upon the unknown vessel, as if anti- 
cipating some dreadful event. They informed me that they 
had put their arms in order and were determined to stand 
or die. 
At this moment a flash of light, perhaps a musket burning 
priming, proceeded from tbe vessel in pursuit, and we saw 
distinctly that her deck was covered with men. My heart 
almost failed me. I had never been in battle, and I knew not 
what it was. Day at length dawned, and setting all her can- 
vass, our pursuer gained alarmingly upon us. It was evident 
that she had followed us the whole night, being unwilling to 
attack us in the dark. In a few minutes she fired a swivel 
and came alongside. She was a pirate. Her boat was low- 
ered, and about a dozen hideous looking objects jumped in, 
with a commander at their head. The boat pushed off, and 
was n earing us fast, as we arranged ourselves for giving her a 
broadside. Our whole stock of arms consisted of six muskets 
and an old swivel used as a signal gun, belonging to the Mary, 
and a pair of pistols of ray own, which I carried in my belt. 
The pirate boat's crew were armed with muskets, pistols, 
42 
