d great
execution. The cries of the wounded and the shouts of the tipsy men
were mingled together, but the crew of the schooner fired with great
rapidity, and sustained the unequal conflict most gallantly.

After a time some men darted down into the cabin. I was then at the
door which led to the magazine passage, and busied myself handing up the
powder, as it secured me from observation, and it was supposed that I
was one of the crew sent down for that duty.

The men roared out, "Where is the captain? We want him to fight the
ship. Toplift is an old fool, and don't know what he is about."

I made no reply, but with my back towards them continued to hand up the
powder, and, having changed my dress, they did not recognise me, so they
rushed upon deck again.

The corvette was now alongside of the schooner, pouring in her
broadsides with fatal execution, the shot passing in every direction
through her, so that there was as much danger below as on deck, and it
was evident that the schooner could not oppose them much longer. Still
they continued to fire with great resolution, being now sobered into
more steadiness than at first. But by this time more than half the men
were killed and wounded, and our guns were encumbered with the wreck and
bodies. I heard them, at the very time that a crashing broadside was
poured in by the corvette, cry out, "Avast firing for a moment and clear
the decks."

They did so, and, having thrown the bodies overboard and cut away the
spars and rigging which had fallen, so as to enable them to work their
guns, during which time three broadsides were poured in, they remanned
their guns, and fought with as much spirit as before. I could not help
admiring the courage of the scoundrels, for nothing could exceed it; but
resistance was useless, further than they preferred dying at their guns
to being hanged on the gibbet.

But the shouts of the pirates and the reports of the guns gradually
decreased. The men were swept away by the enemy's fire, and the guns
were one by one disabled. The schooner's sides were torn out, and the
water poured in so fast that it was rising to the magazine. I heard a
cry of boarders, and the striking of the two vessels together, and then
there was a rush down below, when a man came aft to the magazine
passage. It was the fellow whom I had struck down on the quarter-deck
and had put into irons.

"Come along," said he, to the others; "we'll send the corvette an