alf a mile
of her we rounded to, and gave her our broadside; for had we followed
her any further we should have been closer to the brig than might be
agreeable. Indeed, we were nearer than we thought, for she had
continued to hug the wind, and was so weatherly, that she was not more
than a mile to leeward of us when we rounded to the wind again; but as
she had fore-reached upon the schooner, she was distant from us about
two miles. As we rounded to the brig tacked, and we immediately did the
same; and we now had a fair trial of sailing with her.

"Cross, let the men go down and get what they can to eat," said I, "and
get up the grog. We shall have plenty of work before the night is over,
I expect."

"We must make a running fight of it, sir, I expect, for she is too heavy
for us."

"I shall try her the same way as the schooner, Cross," replied I. "If I
can only knock away some of her spars without losing my own, I shall
then be able to do something; if, on the contrary, we lose our spars,
and she gets alongside of us, why then we must fight to the last."

"I consider that schooner as our own," replied Bob; "she must haul down
her colours when no longer protected by the brig."

"Yes; I was afraid that she would run away to leeward altogether; but I
see she has rounded to, and is no doubt getting up a jury fore-mast."

I allowed the men to remain an hour at their dinner, and then they were
summoned up. During the hour we found the rate of sailing between us
and the brig so nearly balanced, that it was impossible to say which had
the best of it.

"Now, my lads, we will wear round, and get a little closer to this
fellow, and see what we can do with him."

The men were full of spirits and hope, and were as anxious to decide the
question as I was. In ten minutes we passed the brig within a mile on
opposite tacks, and had given her our long gun three times, and had
received her broadside.

"He has long twelve-pounders, I think, sir," said Cross; "smart guns, at
all events. There's a fore shroud and a back stay gone; but that's no
great matter."

As soon as the brig was three points abaft the beam we tacked, and
recommenced firing. Not a shot was thrown away by my men. I believe
the brig was hulled every time; nor was her fire without effect upon us.
Our rigging was much cut up; several of her shots had gone through our
sails, and we had two men hurt. I was annoyed at this, as we had no
surgeon on board.