At length a voice hailed distinctly--"we are
captured by a----." A sudden sharp cry, and a splash overboard, told
of some fearful deed.
"We are taken by a privateer or pirate," sung out another voice. This
was followed by a heavy crunching blow, as when the spike of a
butcher's axe is driven through a bullock's forehead deep into the
brain.
By this time all hands had been called, and the word had been passed to
clear away two of the foremost carronades on the starboard side, and to
load them with grape.
"On board there--get below, all you of the English crew, as I shall
fire with grape," sung out the captain.
The hint was now taken. The ship at length came to the wind--we
rounded to, under her lee--and an armed boat, with Mr. Treenail, and
myself, and sixteen men, with cutlasses, were sent on board.
We jumped on deck, and at the gangway Mr. Treenail stumbled and fell
over the dead body of a man, no doubt the one who had hailed last, with
his skull cloven to the eyes, and a broken cutlass-blade sticking in
the gash. We were immediately accosted by the mate, who was lashed
down to a ring-bolt close by the bits, with his hands tied at the
wrists by sharp cords, so tightly that the blood was spouting from
beneath his nails.
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