m, "Who are you?" I asked. It was
one of our men.

"Is that you, Mr Burton?" he answered, in a faint voice. "It is going
hard with us, for the ship was full of people and they are fighting
well." Oldershaw, who just then came up, heard the words. "We will
turn the tide then!" he exclaimed. "Come on, lads!"

We on this made our way forward, and reached the fore hatchway. Pat
Brady sprang up first, shouting, "The ship is ours! The ship is ours!"

Oldershaw then taking the lead, we rushed aft, where our men were
fighting with a number of Spanish soldiers and seamen. With loud shouts
we dashed at our enemies, who, not seeing our numbers and supposing that
a fresh set of boarders had gained the deck, began to give way.

We pressed on them, those who refused to yield or escape over the
taffrail being speedily cut down. The ship was ours, but we had still a
good deal to do. We had lost several people, killed and wounded, and we
had a large number of prisoners to keep in order. As yet the garrison
in the fort, not knowing who had gained the day, had not commenced
firing at us. We had time, therefore, to secure our prisoners. Sail
was then made on the ship, and her cable being cut, the boats towed her
head round. The topsails were sheeted home, and with a light
land-breeze we stood out of the bay. Having to pass pretty near the
fort, Mr Tilhard, the Second-Lieutenant, ordered the greater number of
the people to go below, he and Kiddle taking the helm; while the few who
remained on deck were directed to keep close under the bulwarks. It was
fortunate that these arrangements were made, for, as we drew near, the
Spaniards began to pepper us pretty sharply with round-shot and
musketry, the bullets flying thickly about us, while several shots
struck the hull. Had they been better gunners they might have done more
damage. Happily no one was hurt, though the sails were riddled and the
white planks laid bare in several places.

As soon as the fight was over I thought of the poor fellow who had been
tumbled below. I went to look for him with a lantern. For some time I
could not discover where he was, for several Spaniards who had been
killed had fallen down at the same spot. Pat, who accompanied me, at
length discovered him. "He will not want any more human aid," he
observed, holding the lantern to his face. "The Spaniards have already
done for him." Whether, if instant aid had been afforded him, the man
mig