effect was to make the ship pay off
before the wind, and expose her stern to the fire of the _Madeline's_
guns, which had been rapidly reloaded and run out. Captain Beauport
then running up on the larboard side of the Portuguese, so as to place
himself between her and the rest of the enemy, continued the fight
broadside to broadside, while he threw out a signal to his consorts to
attack the other ships of the enemy. They, though considerably larger
than the French, after exchanging a few shots at a distance, put up
their helms and ran off before the wind, leaving the first ship attacked
by Captain Beauport to her fate. This was soon settled, for though her
guns and crew greatly outnumbered those of the _Madeline_, so many of
her people had been killed and wounded, that as the French ship ran
alongside for the purpose of boarding the enemy, the crew of the latter
hauled down their flag and cried for quarter. This was immediately
given, and efforts were made to stop the shot-holes through which the
water was running into the prize. There seemed very little prospect of
keeping her afloat. Her crew and passengers were in despair, and were
eager to take refuge on board their captor. Many of the men, instead of
endeavouring to save the ship, fell down on their knees, invoking the
Virgin and saints to assist them. Captain Beauport and his officers,
however, soon stirred them up, and insisted on their going below and
attending to their duty. Among the passengers were two priests, who
seemed especially anxious to save some cases and packages, loudly
calling on their countrymen to assist them.

"Never mind your baggage, my friends," said Nigel. "Let the men attend
to their work. If your property is lost, patience. We must first save
all the water and provisions, in case the ship should go down, as it
will be difficult enough to feed all your people from our own stores."

"But, Monsieur officer, our property is invaluable," cried the priests.
"It cannot be replaced. You do not know what precious things we have
got."

"Precious or not, they must stay where they are till the shot-holes are
plugged, unless you choose to carry them yourselves."

"Oh, sacrilegious heretic, we will be revenged on you some day,"
muttered one of the priests, while the other hurled some curses at
Nigel's head, to which he did not stop to listen, remembering the
proverb that "Curses, like birds, go home to roost at night."

By plugging the