ment George was at
Bowen's side, and, placing themselves back to back, these two managed to
successfully defend themselves until the crew of the _Virginie_,
inspired by their leader's example, had pressed in to their assistance,
when the pirates, becoming scattered, were driven irresistibly to
opposite ends of the ship, and some were actually driven overboard.
Then recognising that they were defeated, and suddenly losing heart,
they threw down their weapons, and cried for quarter. But the worst
passions of the _Virginia's_ crew were by this time fully aroused; they
thought of nothing but the fact that their enemies _were pirates_, men
steeped to the lips in crime of the vilest description, and guilty of
unnumbered deeds of blood-curdling atrocity, and many of the Spaniards
were ruthlessly slaughtered before George and Bowen could induce them to
stay their hands. Then, when order and authority were once more
restored, heads were counted, and it was found that, out of a crew of
over eighty, twenty-three pirates only--their leader included--remained
alive, and these were promptly clapped in irons and bundled
unceremoniously below. Strange to say, notwithstanding the desperate
character of the fighting, the _Virginie's_ crew had suffered but
slightly in comparison--nine killed and thirteen wounded being the total
of the casualties. A short breathing-space was allowed the men to
recover themselves after their extraordinary exertions, and then all
hands set to work to clear the decks of the sickening evidences of the
contest; the crew were next divided equally between the two ships, and,
with Mr Bowen in command of the _Aurora_, both craft then made sail to
windward in company.

The third craft--the full-rigged ship--meanwhile was still in sight from
aloft, dodging about under easy canvas, and evidently waiting for the
_Aurora_ to rejoin. There could be little doubt, therefore, that she
was in the possession of a prize-crew of the pirates, and George
earnestly hoped he might be able to reach her in time to save the lives
of some at least of those to whom she rightfully belonged.

A couple of hours later they were alongside--the _Virginie_ on the
weather and the _Aurora_ on the lee quarter--with ports open, guns run
out, and the English ensign flying at the peak, the red flag having been
allowed to remain aloft on board the _Aurora_ until ranging alongside
the strange ship, when it was hauled down, and the English flag r