erboard, told
of some fearful deed.

"We are taken by a privateer or pirate," sung out another voice. This
was followed by a heavy crunching blow, as when the spike of a
butcher's axe is driven through a bullock's forehead deep into the
brain.

By this time all hands had been called, and the word had been passed to
clear away two of the foremost carronades on the starboard side, and to
load them with grape.

"On board there--get below, all you of the English crew, as I shall
fire with grape," sung out the captain.

The hint was now taken. The ship at length came to the wind--we
rounded to, under her lee--and an armed boat, with Mr. Treenail, and
myself, and sixteen men, with cutlasses, were sent on board.

We jumped on deck, and at the gangway Mr. Treenail stumbled and fell
over the dead body of a man, no doubt the one who had hailed last, with
his skull cloven to the eyes, and a broken cutlass-blade sticking in
the gash. We were immediately accosted by the mate, who was lashed
down to a ring-bolt close by the bits, with his hands tied at the
wrists by sharp cords, so tightly that the blood was spouting from
beneath his nails.

"We have been surprised by a privateer schooner, sir; the lieutenant of
her, and several men, are now in the cabin."

"Where are the rest of the crew?"

"All secured in the forecastle, except the second-mate and boatswain,
the men who hailed you just now; the last was knocked on the head, and
the former was stabbed and thrown overboard."

We immediately released the men, eighteen in number, and armed them
with boarding-pikes. "What vessel is that astern of us?" said Treenail
to the mate. Before he could answer, a shot from the brig fired at the
privateer showed she was broad awake. Next moment Captain Deadeye
hailed. "Have you mastered the prize crew, Mr. Treenail?" "Ay, ay,
sir." "Then bear up on your course, and keep two lights hoisted at
your mizzen-peak during the night, and blue Peter at the maintopsail
yardarm when the day breaks: I shall haul my wind after the suspicious
sail in your wake."

Another shot, and another, from the brig--the time between each flash
and the report increasing with the distance. By this the lieutenant
has descended to the cabin, followed by his people, while the merchant
crew once more took charge of the ship, crowding sail into the body of
the fleet.

I followed him close, pistol and cutlass in hand, and I shall never
forget the scene th