l, ploughing up the water as they leaped
along it, chasing each other across the surface on every side of the
ship. We could have expected nothing else than to be sunk instantly,
had we had time for consideration; but, as it was, wonderfully few
struck our hull, while not a shroud was cut away, nor was a man hurt.
The huge _Director_, close to us, might have sent us to the bottom with
a broadside, but not a shot from her, that we could see, came aboard us.

"They have not the heart to fire at us, the blackguards!" observed one
of the men near me.

"It may be that, Bill; but, to my mind, they're struck all of a heap at
seeing the brave way our captain did that," answered another. "If we'd
had the guns mounted he'd have fired smack into them. We send our
powder aboard that pirate Parker's ship! we unbend our sails to please
such a sneaking scoundrel as he!"

"It's just this, that the misguided chaps are slaves against their will,
and they haven't become bad enough yet to fire on their countrymen, and
maybe old friends and shipmates," said a third.

Such were the opinions generally expressed on board. It was reported
afterwards that the _Director_ fired blank cartridges, and this may have
been the case, but I think more probably that her people were first
struck with astonishment at our manoeuvre, and then, with admiration at
the bravery displayed, purposely fired wide of us. As, however, we were
frequently struck, some shots by traitorous hands must have been aimed
at us from her, or from some of the other ships. In little more than
two hours the bulkheads were cleared away from the cabin door, to the
break of the quarter-deck, (the whole space having, as I before said,
been fitted up with cabins for the suite of Her Royal Highness). The
guns on both sides were got up from the hold and mounted, and we were
ready for action. As soon as the task was accomplished, the men came
aft in a body, and entreated, should any ships be sent after us by the
mutineers, that they might be allowed to fight to the last, and go down
with our colours flying, rather than yield, and return to the fleet at
the Nore.

Sir Harry readily promised not to disappoint their wishes.

We stood on, but as yet no sign was perceptible of chase being made
after us. It was possible, we thought, that no ship's company could be
induced to weigh in pursuit. They well knew that we should prove a
tough bargain, had any single ship come up with us.