p, and one wounded. By Ten, the Mizen-mast was shot by the Board.
Wanting People to cut the Mast-Rigging, _&c._ from her Side, found them
appear very thin upon Deck, and desired my younger Mates to drive them
out of their Holes. Word was then brought me, that my Chief Mate's Leg
was shot off, but that he was in good Heart. All this time it was a
Calm, and our Guns of the Broad-side of no Service, not being able,
during the Engagement, to bring one Gun to bear upon them. They kept
throwing their shot so thick in at our Stern, with a continual Fire, and
we return'd it as fast as we could load and fire. About One, my
Main-mast was shot by the Board, and the Fall of that stove the Pinnace
on the Booms. The Loss of my Main-mast gave me a very great Concern, and
seeing the Condition of the Fore-mast, the Fore-yard half way down, and
the Top-sail Yard-arm sprung in several Places, the Head of the
Top-gallant-Mast shot away, render'd that Mast quite useless. I could
not see which way it was in the Power of Men to save us from these Dogs.
However, I made myself as easy as could be expected, and kept my
Thoughts to myself. Tho' the Shot were like Hail about my Ears, I thank
God I escaped them, neither did they give me much Uneasiness as to my
Person. The Grabbs perceiving their great Advantage by the Fall of our
Main-mast, _&c._ tho' all the time before within Musket-Shot, come up
boldly within Call, throwing in at our Stern Double-round and Partridge
as fast as they could load and fire; we doing the same with Bolts, _&c._
We saw a great many Holes in their Sails. Soon after this, they lodg'd
two Double-head-Shot, and a large Stone in the Fore-mast, the Shrowds of
which were mostly gone. I often sent Capt. _Scarlet_ to Mr. _Cudden_, to
encourage the People, and to take care to cool his Guns, and not fire in
Haste, but take good Aim. We received two Double-headed-Shot in the
Bread-room, which were soon plugg'd up, and one Shot under the Larboard
Chesstree, but so low in the Water, that could not get at it, and the
Ship prov'd leaky. I had a Pack of sad cowardly, ignorant Dogs as ever
came into a Ship. As to my common Sailors, who were not above Twelve
Seamen, with the Officers, they stood by me. It was all owing to my
Misfortune on the _Mouse_, that I was so poorly Mann'd. As to my Third
Mate, _B----s_, he did not seem to stomach what he was about; he was
sometimes on the Quarter-Deck (not being able to use any Guns but the
Stern-Ch