by us apparently to watch till we should go down. This made our
position very perilous, for any moment the pirates might return and
knock us all on the head, though, for that matter, I resolved that if
they attempted it, we would sell our lives at no cheap rate. As I
glanced my eyes along our deck and up aloft, a sad scene of havoc and
destruction met them. Our running rigging was un-rove and carried off,
our standing rigging was cut through, and what sails remained on the
yards were hanging in shreds. On deck, our boats were stove in, the
caboose knocked to pieces, and the cooking things gone. Indeed I could
scarcely have supposed that so much mischief could have been committed
by a few people in so short a time. Having made these observations, I
again went below to hold a consultation with my mates as to what was
best to be done. We made up our minds that as long as the water did not
gain on us, and the pirate lay near us, all we could do was to remain
quiet below; but we agreed to arm ourselves in the best way we could,
and, if the pirates returned, to rush out on them in a body, and to
attempt to take them by surprise. The arms from my cabin had been
carried off; but there were three brace of pistols and a couple of
fowling-pieces in a chest in the after-hold, which had escaped their
notice; as also some ammunition. We had also among us a couple of axes,
and some thick ends of crowbars; so that we were likely to prove pretty
formidable in a close scuffle. When we were ready, we almost wished
that the fellows would come back, that we might punish them for what
they had done, and I believe that we should have rendered a good account
of them. But at the same time, as bloodshed must have followed--and
that in any case is bad,--and we could not have regained our property, I
cannot say but what I am glad they did not make the attempt. If we had
had the brig under control, we might have done something; but without
sails, and almost sinking, we were helpless. I now returned on deck, to
watch the movements of the pirate. All this time the water kept coming
in, and I began to fear that our brig would not keep afloat till the
pirate had sheered off, when suddenly I saw her sheet home her topsails,
let fall her courses, and make sail away to the eastward. After
watching her for a quarter of an hour--which seemed four times as long a
period,--to make sure that the pirates could no longer see us, I called
the people