us to try and stop it?'

"`Ay, ay,' I answered; for you see, sir, I am always glad to lend a hand
to any other ship's company requiring assistance. To show that what he
stated was true, three or four hands were working at the pumps, though I
did not see that they were forcing much water over the sides. We
lowered a boat accordingly, and I jumped in, with four hands, and pulled
aboard the stranger. As the bowman caught hold of the main-chains--

"`Why, she has canvas over her sides,' he remarked.

"`Shove off, my lads; it's not all right,' I sung out.

"But before the bowman could clear his boat-hook, a couple of cold shot
were hove into the boat, and she began to fill rapidly. We had no
choice but to scramble on board, or to go down with her. As soon as we
were on the deck of the stranger, we found ourselves knocked over; and
before we could get on our legs, we were bound hand and foot. The men
who acted as officers, as well as the crew of the vessel, were rigged
out in so odd a fashion, and their faces so covered up with hair and
black patches, that I could not have recognised them had I known them
ever so well; but still, at the time, it struck me that the fellow who
seemed to be the captain, had a figure very like that of Delano. Of
course I did not say anything, as I knew that to do so would be a sure
way of getting knocked on the head, and made food for fishes. Leaving
my people and me on the deck to think what we might, the villains, who
had now got a boat in very good condition, lowered her, and, with
pistols hid under their shirts, and cutlasses and muskets stowed away
underneath the thwarts, went aboard my brig. In a few minutes they
hailed, which showed me that they had made quick work in taking
possession. The two vessels were now brought alongside each other, and
lashed together, and my men and I were then handed on board our own
craft, and carried below--I into my cabin, and the rest into the
forepeak, where others of the crew had been already conveyed. I won't
attempt to tell you how I felt, as I saw the villains rifling my boxes
and lockers, and carrying off everything worth having. They made quick
work of it, being hurried on by their captain; and then they set-to to
take possession of our cargo. They left me in my own sleeping-berth, on
my back, so that I could see nothing; but, from the sounds I heard, I
judged that they were handing bale after bale of our cargo into their
own craft. T