arks, filling the air with a perfect storm of splinters,
but happily hurting no one but myself. A large jagged splinter struck
me in the left shoulder, lacerating the flesh rather badly; but one of
the men sprang to my assistance and quickly bound it up.

"Up helm, my man, and let her go off until our starboard broadside
bears," said I to the man who now relieved me at the wheel, adding in a
shout to the crew--

"Stand by your starboard guns, and fire as they come to bear upon her!"

Bang! bang! bang! Our modest broadside of _three_ six-pounders spoke
out almost simultaneously. I did not see the shot strike anywhere, but
almost immediately afterwards down came her maintopmast and the peak of
her mainsail. Her main-masthead had been shot away, and the _Dolores_
at least was safe; for the pirates, having lost their after-sail, would
now be compelled to make a running fight of it before the wind, which
would enable Christie to haul his wind and get out of danger. Our men
raised a cheer at their lucky shot, and I, determined not to throw away
the least advantage, gave orders to port the helm and bring the schooner
to the wind on the starboard tack, so getting the weather-gage of the
brigantine. As we rounded-to our antagonist fell off, the two craft
thus presenting their larboard broadsides to each other; and, both being
ready, we fired at precisely the same moment, the report of the two
discharges being so absolutely coincident that I did not know the
brigantine had fired until her shot came smashing in through our
bulwarks, wounding five men and rendering one of our six-pounders
useless by dismounting it. So close were we to each other by this time
that before we could load again the brigantine had passed astern of us,
and none of our guns would bear upon her or hers upon us. Her crew were
doing their utmost to keep her close to the wind, but with the peak of
her mainsail down she would not lay any higher than within about eight
points; and I determined to take the utmost advantage of her
comparatively helpless position while I might, for a lucky shot on her
part might make her case ours at any moment. I therefore signed to the
helmsman to put down his helm, and at the same moment gave the order--

"Ready about! helm's a-lee!"

The nimble little schooner spun round upon her heel as smartly as a
dancing girl, presenting her starboard broadside to the brigantine.

"Stand by your starboard broadside, and fire a