upon it, those Spaniards have got more help, and
are coming back to take the vessel; they know we have only ten hands on
board."

By this time the men were all on deck. I directed Swinburne to see all
the muskets loaded, and ran down for my own sword and pistols. The
water was so smooth, and the silence so profound, that Swinburne had
heard the sound of the oars at a considerable distance. Fortunate it
was, that I had such a trusty follower. Another might have slumbered,
and the schooner have been boarded and captured without our being
prepared. When I came on deck again I spoke to the men, exhorted them
to do their duty, and pointed out to them that these cut-throat villains
would certainly murder us all if we were taken, which I firmly believe
would have been the case. The men declared that they would sell their
lives as dearly as they could. We had twenty muskets, and the same
number of pistols, all of which were now loaded. Our guns were also
ready, but of no use, now that the schooner had not steerage-way.

The boats were in sight, about a quarter of a mile astern, when
Swinburne said, "There's a cat's-paw flying along the water, Mr Simple;
if we could only have a little wind, how we would laugh at them; but I'm
afraid there's no such luck. Shall we let them know that we are ready?"

"Let every one of us take two muskets," said I: "when the first boat is
under the counter, take good aim, and discharge into one of the boats;
then seize the other musket, and discharge it at the other boat. After
that, we must trust to our cutlasses and pistols; for if they come on,
there will be no time to load again. Keep silence, all of you."

The boats now came up, full of men; but as we remained perfectly quiet,
they pulled up gently, hoping to surprise us. Fortunately, one was a
little in advance of the other; upon which I altered my directions, and
desired my men to fire their second musket upon the first boat, as, if
we could disable her, we were an equal match for those in the other.
When the boat was within six yards of the schooner's counter. "Now!"
said I, and all the muskets were discharged at once, and my men cheered.
Several of the oars dropped, and I was sure we had done great
execution; but they were laid hold of by the other men, who had not been
pulling, and again the boat advanced to the counter.

"Good aim, my lads, this time," cried Swinburne; "the other boat will be
alongside as soon as you hav