ain the advantage we wished, we ran under her lee, and Lancelot in
a loud tone ordered her to strike to the Commonwealth of England.

As a haughty refusal was the answer, we opened fire, hoping to knock
away a mast or some of her spars, and thus be able to gain the position
we desired; but the corsair, for such the stranger undoubtedly was,
replied with a broadside of upwards of twenty guns, the shot from which
passing between our masts, did no further damage than cutting away some
of our running rigging.

We now stood on yard-arm to yard-arm, firing our guns as rapidly as they
could be run in and loaded. Our enemies meantime were not idle, and
their shot came crashing pretty thickly on board. Two of our men were
killed and others wounded. But we judged that we were committing more
damage than we received. Many of our shots went through and through the
corsair's sides, others swept her decks and killed several of her crew.
Still, from her superior size and greater number of guns, it was
probable before we could take her that she might so seriously damage our
little frigate that we might be prevented from prosecuting our object.

Notwithstanding this, Lancelot had no idea of retreating from the fight,
and it only made him more anxious to gain a speedy victory. It was soon
seen that the corsair was suffering the most in her hull, though her
masts and spars had hitherto escaped. On the other hand, we had lost
our fore-topmast, and shortly afterwards our fore-yard came down by the
run on deck, killing two of our men. Still these disasters did not
induce us to relax our efforts.

Our crew, now that they were put on their mettle, showed that they were
sturdy Englishmen, and as our shot went crashing through the side of our
big opponent they cheered again and again, believing that she would soon
be compelled to strike.

Lancelot stood on the after-castle, watching every movement of the
enemy. At last his voice shouted, "Boarders! be prepared to repel
boarders!" and as he spoke the big ship was seen bearing down, evidently
intending to run alongside. Our men had hangers and pistols in their
belts. Those not required to work the guns seized the boarding pikes
and stood ready to spring to that part of the ship's side where the
enemy might board us.

The corsair glided up, and her bow striking ours, she hooked on to our
fore-chains. The next instant a countless number of swarthy figures
with turbaned heads, bright