se and
confusion; in a second or two there were thirty of their men on our
decks, flourishing their cutlasses, and looking round with their pistols
ready cocked in their left hands for somebody to let fly at. At last
they came aft. "Pilot!" cried Bramble, taking off his hat. I did the
same. With reiterated _sacres_ and _diables_ of every description some
now rushed down into the cabin, while others went down the
fore-hatchway, while more of the men from the lugger poured upon our
decks; but none of them molested Bramble or me, as we continued standing
at the wheel. In about ten minutes order was to a certain degree
restored by the captain of the privateer, who had come on board. I
perceived him express his surprise to his officers who were with him at
the armament of the ship, and he appeared very much pleased: it was not
necessary to understand French for that. He then came up to Bramble, and
spoke to him in French; but Bramble only pointed to me and then to
himself, and said "Pilot." The captain called for a young Frenchman who
could speak English, and then asked Bramble what was the cargo.

Bramble, to please him, replied that it was silk and other goods to the
value of thirty thousand pounds English.

"How many men?"

"Forty-five men."

The French captain rubbed his hands with ecstasy, as well he might. Just
at this moment the English captain came upon deck, followed by two of
the privateer's men, one of whom had taken possession of his laced cap,
and the other of his silk sash. He brought his sword in his hand, and
presented it to the captain of the privateer, saying, "It is no disgrace
for one brave man to deliver up his sword to another."

"Que dit il?" said the captain of the privateer to the young man who
interpreted. The young man translated this fine speech, upon which the
French captain called the English one by a very contemptuous title, and
turned away. The privateer's men now made their appearance from below,
having helped themselves to everything they could find; the orders were
then given for the prisoners to be brought upon deck; they were driven
up, many of them bleeding from wounds received in attempts to rescue
their personal property, and were handed over to the lugger. A
prize-master with twenty men was put on board; the lugger was hauled
off, the only Englishmen allowed to remain in the captured vessel being
Bramble and myself. As soon as the vessels were clear they made sail,
running about