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opened, and a couple of shots came hissing by us. It was a desperate
chance. Her object was to cripple us, and if she could do so, perhaps
she hoped to haul her wind, and, favoured by the darkness, to creep away
from between us and the shore. We fired our bow-chasers as often as we
could in return, and more than one shot told with damaging effect.
Still every injury was repaired as soon as received. The land, seen
under the glow of the setting sun, was growing more and more distinct,
and by the time the shades of evening came over us we were near enough
to distinguish it and the chase, now in dangerous proximity to its
sands.

The chase had now lasted fifteen hours--another hour would decide the
point. It soon passed. It was a moment of intense interest. Every man
was at his station. Hands were in the chains with the lead. We were
nearer the coast than under other circumstances we would willingly have
been. The chase stood on with everything set. One felt it a grievous
pity that so beautiful a fabric should be doomed to destruction. Her
striking would give us time to haul off. On she glided, her symmetry
unimpaired. In another moment her tall masts rocked to and fro; a loud
crashing and tearing, even at that distance, reached our ears.

"Down with the helm!" shouted Captain Hudson. "Haul aft the starboard
sheets! Flatten in the starboard braces! Give her the starboard
broadside!"

These and other orders to bring the ship on a wind followed in quick
succession amid the roar of our guns, which sent the shot crashing into
the unfortunate chase. As soon as the ship was put about she stood back
on the other tack, pouring in a second and still more destructive
broadside. Again the ship was put about; once more the starboard
broadside was loaded, and as we came abreast of the stranded chase,
fired into her with deadly effect.

"Boats away!" was now the order. The men, with cutlasses by their sides
and pistols in their belts, sprang into them. Mr Willis led the
expedition: not a moment was to be lost. The stranger must be boarded
before the crew could recover from the effects of our broadsides, or
people would come off from the shore to defend her. She had fallen
almost broadside on to the beach, and on the other side the sea was
washing over her. We pulled round, and boarded under her counter,
cutlass in hand. A slight resistance only was made by her captain and
officers and some of the cr