alter
Stenning, if he was still on board. By this time, both the brig and
ship had drawn close in-shore, and every movement could clearly be
observed with the naked eye. Poor Jacob Lyal had come aloft; and as
soon as he recognised the brig, he was nearly falling on deck,
overpowered with all the dreadful recollections her appearance conjured
up.

No vessel, unless one well acquainted with the coast, could have
ventured to stand in as close as the brig had done. She was now about a
mile from the entrance of the harbour; and the corvette, outside of her,
had just begun to fire a bow-gun now and then, to try its range. At
last a shot went through one of the brig's topsails. She, in return,
fired, endeavouring to cripple her pursuer, thus to have time to run
under the shelter which was so near. Never have I witnessed a more
exciting scene. Our mast-heads were soon crowded with spectators. Even
the sluggish Moors rushed out of their houses, and went to the
neighbouring heights to watch what was going forward. Their interest
was, however, on the other side of the question. Many of them must have
had relatives and friends on board the rover, and they were as anxious
for her escape as we were to see her captured. The action now became
warm--both corvette and brig were firing away as fast as they could
load.

"Hurrah! the pirate seems to be getting the worst of it," said I to
Peter. "The rovers will meet with their deserts before long, I hope."

"So do I," he answered. "But do you know, Jack, I'm more anxious about
the corvette. If she were to receive any damage, and not be able to
haul off-shore, she is, do you see, on an enemy's coast, and all her
people would be made prisoners, if not murdered; while the brig has a
port under her lee, and can run in even if she gets a good deal of
knocking about."

While we were thus talking, the corvette had drawn still nearer to the
brig, and her shot began to tell with considerable effect. Down came
the brig's maintop-gallant-mast, the spars hanging by the rigging. We
next saw several hands going aloft to clear it away, when another shot
struck the maintop-mast. The Moors attempted in haste to slide down the
stays and shrouds, but scarcely had they begun their descent when the
mast bent over to leeward, and down it came with a crash, jerking off
many of them into the sea. There in vain they struggled for life; the
combatants flew on, leaving them to their fate. Stil