greater number of their enemies were
forward, so Jack and most of his party sprang on in that direction,
hoping to dispose of them first. The fellows stood their ground, firing
their pistols and flourishing their swords, and two of the English were
shot, and Jack got an ugly cut across his shoulder. Still he pressed
on, and compelled at length the Spaniards to take refuge in their cabin
under the topgallant forecastle. Meantime Terence was keeping the
slaver's captain and officers in check, but he had lost a man, who was
struck to the deck, and Needham too was wounded. Matters were going
very hard with Jack and his followers. Still ten British seamen might
well have hoped to conquer the whole of a slaver's crew. The fight had
now become desperate. The Spanish captain had probably all his fortune
embarked in the venture, Jack and his party had to struggle for life and
liberty. Again and again they made desperate rushes at the afterpart of
the vessel, and at length they pushed the Spaniards so hard that they
almost drove them overboard, when two sails were seen emerging from out
of the fog and gliding up alongside. In another instant, not Queerface,
but the veritable Don Diogo himself was seen to spring on board,
followed by a dozen or more villainous-looking ruffians.

"What's all this? what's all this?" his harsh croaking voice was heard
shouting in Spanish. "Down with the English pirates, down with them!"

Hearing the cry, the Spaniards, who had taken refuge forward, rushed out
again, and though Jack called to Terence to fight to the last, and that
they would sell their lives dearly, they found themselves literally
borne down by numbers, and their cutlasses whirled out of their hands.

"We have done our best, Paddy, we can do no more," exclaimed Jack, as he
and Terence found themselves standing side by side, with their hands
secured and lashed to the mainmast. Needham and the rest of the people
who were able to move were treated in the same way.

"Why, my friend, you were very nearly captured by these picaroons," they
heard Don Diogo remark to the other Spanish captain. "But where is a
lantern?--let me see whom we have caught."

The lantern was brought, and the Don came round and held it up to their
faces.

"Ha! ha!" he exclaimed, with a most sardonic grin. "Your obedient
humble servant, gentlemen. I told you we should meet again, and we have
met. What do you expect after all the tricks you have pla