pursuers. All her guns were loaded with round and
small shot; and a warm fire was kept up from her deck with muskets and
pistols at the schooner which followed in her wake, her stern being
kept, by means of the sweeps, directly towards the enemy. One of the
gunboats had dropped astern, but the other two kept close to her.

A Spanish officer on board the schooner now ordered the gunboats to
board the brig, the schooner herself giving signs that she was about to
do the same. Sir Henry watched carefully to ascertain in what way they
were about to attack the brig. The schooner kept off a little, and then
showed that she was about to board on the starboard quarter, while the
gunboats pulled for her larboard quarter and bow.

Sir Henry waited till the schooner and gunboats had got within about
fifteen yards of the brig; then, with the sweeps on the larboard side,
he rapidly pulled her round, so as to bring her starboard broadside to
bear athwart the schooner's bow.

"Now, lads, give it them!" he shouted, and the whole broadside of the
brig, with round and grape shot, was poured into the schooner's bows,
now crowded with men ready to board, raking her fore and aft, and
killing numbers of them. The _Rover_'s crew instantly rushed over to
the other side and swept her round; then, manning the larboard guns,
raked both the gunboats in the same manner.

The shrieks and cries of the wounded showed the damage which had been
done, the Spanish boats backing their oars, as if not wishing to renew
the contest.

A voice from the schooner, however, ordered them to come on, while she
kept firing away, though with somewhat abated energy. The crews of the
Spanish boats having somewhat recovered their courage, once more
returned to the attack; but the _Rover_'s guns kept them from again
attempting to board. Now and then they retired, and whenever they did
so she pulled round, and again brought her broadside to bear on the bows
of the schooner.

Thus for nearly an hour and a half was the contest carried on, when a
light breeze sprang up, which placed the schooner to windward.

True Blue hurried aft. "If we back our headsails, Sir Henry, we shall
run stern on the enemy, and may then carry her by boarding!" he
exclaimed.

"Right, boatswain," was the answer. "Boarders, away!--follow me!"

The manoeuvre was quickly performed. With a crash the brig's stern ran
against the schooner's side, and before the enemy knew what the Englis