d for some time before been suspicious of the strange sail, which
he saw standing up on his starboard quarter, and, thinking that she was
very probably an enemy's privateer, was not taken altogether unprepared.
He had ordered his powder and shot to be brought on deck, and the guns
to be loaded and run out ready for action; when, therefore, a shot from
the stranger came flying close to his stern, he fired in return, and at
the same time making all sail, endeavoured to keep ahead of her. She
now fired shot after shot from her foremost guns, and he had no longer
any doubt that she was an enemy which had borne down on the fleet,
hoping to pick up one or two of the merchant vessels and be off with
them before morning.

"The fellow has made a mistake in attacking us," observed Owen to his
first mate. "His greediness tempted him to attack a big ship--he might
have succeeded had he run alongside some of the brigs astern."

Pompey, who had accompanied Mr Ferris and his daughter below, returned
to report that he had seen them safe in the hold. "De gentlemen want to
come back and fight, but de young lady no let him--she cry so, and hold
his hand, and say he get kill; so at last he sit down and stay quiet,"
remarked Pompey.

"I am very glad to hear it," observed Owen; "he could be of no use in
working the guns, and it would be a sad thing to have him injured."

These remarks were made in the intervals of firing. The enemy, however,
did not leave them long at rest; their shot soon began to tell with
fearful effect; several of the crew fell killed or wounded, and the
sails and rigging were much cut about. Still Owen's men were staunch,
and stood manfully to their guns, running them in and out so rapidly,
and pointing them so well, that they inflicted as much damage as they
received; and by the way he manoeuvred his ship he kept the stranger at
a distance, and prevented her from running up alongside, which it was
evidently her intention to do. She, however, it appeared, by possessing
a numerous crew, had an immense advantage in being able to repair her
damages far more rapidly than could the people of the _Ouzel Galley_
those their ship received. At length, however, the rigging of his ship
was so much cut up that Owen could no longer manoeuvre her as he had
done, and the pirate, taking advantage of his condition, ran alongside
him.

"The enemy are about to board us!" cried Owen; "be ready to repel him--
they'll give no qua