f the spot where I had seen the flashes.
We were not long in getting up to it. There was a large barque under
sail, steering somewhat wildly, but still keeping after the fleet. We
hailed as we got close to her, but received no answer. A second time we
hailed, still louder, but there was no reply. We then fired a shot
across her bows, but she stood on as before. On this the captain
directed me to take a boat and board her. There was not much sea, but
in the wild way in which she was steering about, and in the extreme
darkness, this would, I knew, be no very easy matter. However, singing
out for volunteers, I soon had eight good hands to man a boat, and away
we pulled towards the barque. As we got near I again hailed. As
before, there was no reply. At last, watching the proper moment, I
pulled in towards her, and hooked on to her mizen-chains. We soon, with
lanterns in hand, scrambled on board. As I was hurrying along the deck,
I stepped on some substance which very nearly made me measure my length
on it. I called to Tom Rockets, who was of course near me, to throw the
light of his lantern on the spot. It was blood. There could be no
doubt of it. The deck in several places was moist with the same, but
yet no one had we seen. Aft there was no one. The helm was lashed
amidships, and the ship was left to steer herself. Ordering a hand to
the wheel, to keep her close after the Charon, I again traversed the
deck to examine her forward. On my way I stumbled over two human forms.
The light of the lantern, which fell on their countenances, showed me
that they were not Englishmen--dark-bearded, swarthy fellows, dressed in
true buccaneer style. I had little doubt that they were pirates, or
belonging to the crew of one of the Spanish privateers, most of which
deserved no better character. Farther on were two or three English
seamen, so they seemed. Here evidently had been a desperate fight, but
it was too clear which party had gained the victory. Two other bodies
were found locked in a deadly embrace--an English seaman and a Spaniard.
One had been endeavouring to force the other overboard. The Spaniard's
knife was sticking in the Englishman's throat, but the latter had not
died till he had strangled his antagonist. A few moments sufficed to
reveal this tale of horror. I looked out to endeavour to discern the
pirate. I fancied that I could make out the sails of a fore and aft
vessel to leeward, but when I lo