sistance they lost more than half their number, the
survivors sullenly flung down their arms and surrendered.

The next business was to attend to the safety of both vessels, which
were now perilously near the reefs ahead. Half a dozen men were sent on
board the brigantine to assist those already there in working her, when
the grapplings were cast off, the brigantine starboarded her helm while
we ported ours, and the two ships separated, to haul up on opposite
tacks.

The ship's sails were not above half set, so as soon as we had hauled
her to the wind the halliards were manned and the topsail-yards got
chock up to their sheaves, the courses let fall, tacks boarded, and
sheets hauled aft, when we eased the helm down and threw her in stays.

Day was by this time beginning to break. The sky overhead was lighting
up, the stars paling out and fading away, while surrounding objects
began to loom ghost-like and indistinct in the first grey of the early
dawn. The brigantine was just visible about half a mile ahead and
inshore of us, apparently hove-to. As we drew up abreast of her she
filled her topsail and stood on in company, the ship by this time under
every stitch of canvas, up to topgallantsails, while the brigantine drew
ahead of us under mainsail, topsail, and jib, and was obliged to shiver
her topsail every now and then in order to avoid running away from us.

In twenty minutes more we rounded the point, and there lay the
"Astarte," a couple of miles off, rolling heavily upon the ground-swell.
On reaching her, both our prizes were hove-to as close to the frigate
and to each other as was consistent with safety, and Mr Flinn and I
jumped into the gig and went on board to report.

"Well, Mr Flinn," said the skipper, meeting us at the gangway, "glad to
see you back safe and sound; you too, Mr Chester," shaking hands with
us both. "But how is this? Are you hurt, Ralph?" as on my facing to
the eastward the light fell upon my face, and he saw blood upon it.

"A broken skull, sir;" I replied, "nothing _very_ serious though, I
believe."

"And what's the news?" continued the skipper. "I see you have brought
both vessels out with you. What are they?"

"To tell you the truth, sir," answered Flinn, "we have had no time yet
to find out _what_ they are. They are both Spaniards, however, and, if
I am not greatly mistaken, we shall find that the brigantine is little
better than a pirate."

"Um!" said the skipper, "lik