ingle female, whose
friendship was sufficiently ardent and pure to become proverbial. Even
the Helena and Hermia of Shakspeare, whose friendship is so touchingly
described by one of them, were not only imaginary creations of the
poet's brain; but, as if to prove the impossibility of friendship
existing between two ladies, he has made them actually pull caps in the
very first act of the play in which they are introduced.

By this time the Venganza had ranged up within speaking distance, and
hailed:

"Send the prisoners that you brought from San Blas on board my ship."

"We have no prisoners here--we are all freemen," was the answer.

"Send your first officer and the four men that were with him on board
this ship, or I will fire into you."

"Well, I guess, then, you'll have to fire; for I can't spare either
officer or men," replied Captain Williams drily.

"I repeat, for the last time, give up those men, or I will fire."

"Come after them yourself, then," roared back the irritated Yankee,
losing all patience.

"D--n my buttons!" said Jones, from the midship or "slaughter-house"
gun, "he'd better come aboard starn foremost, then, so's to be all ready
for a run."

Don Diego Pinto, the commander of the Venganza, although a brave man,
and one who had "done the state some service," by no means liked the
aspect of affairs. He had had frequent opportunities of seeing the crew
of the Albatross, and knew that, with the exception of Captain Williams,
there was not a man on board over forty years of age; that they were all
stout, active, powerful men, warmly attached to their officers, and
living in perfect harmony with each other; that her guns were of uniform
calibre--namely, nine pounders, and consequently no confusion could
take place respecting cartridges or shot: on the other hand, he was a
Spaniard, the first lieutenant a Portuguese; and the second a Frenchman;
of three different nations, and three different dispositions, they never
agreed: he knew, too, that his crew was composed of a few Spaniards, a
few Portuguese, and the rest Chilians, Peruvians, and Mexicans, negroes,
mulattoes, and Indians, quarrelling and stabbing from morning till
night; that his guns were of all sorts, from twelve to four pounders
inclusive; that, although he numbered eighty on board his ship, thirty
well-armed men from the Albatross would take his ship from him in less
than five minutes, if they were thrown upon his deck during the action