haul up alongside. So sudden was the release, that twenty
of them fell over by their own efforts. In this state the ship passed
ahead, all her canvas being full, leaving the proa motionless in her
wake. In passing, however, the two vessels were so near, that those aft
in the _John_ distinctly saw the swarthy faces of their enemies.

We were no sooner clear of the proas than the order was given, "Ready
about!" The helm was put down, and the ship came into the wind in a
minute. As we came square with the two proas, all our larboard guns were
given to them, and this ended the affair. I think the nearest of the
rascals got it this time, for away she went, after her consort, both
running off toward the islands. We made a little show of chasing, but it
was only a feint; for we were too glad to get away from them, to be in
earnest. In ten minutes after we tacked the last time, we ceased firing,
having thrown some eight or ten round-shot after the proas, and were
close-hauled again, heading to the southwest.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] From _Afloat and Ashore_.

THE WONDERFUL FIGHT OF THE _EXCHANGE_ OF BRISTOL WITH THE PIRATES OF
ALGIERS[4]

SAMUEL PURCHAS

In the yeere 1621, the first of November, there was one _Iohn Rawlins_,
borne in _Rochester_, and dwelling three and twenty yeere in _Plimmoth_,
imployed to the Strait of _Gibraltar_, by Master _Richard_, and _Steven
Treviles_, Merchants of Plimmoth, and fraighted in a Barke, called the
_Nicholas_ of _Plimmoth_, of the burden of forty Tun, which had also in
her company another ship of _Plimmoth_, called the _George Benaventure_
of seventy Tun burthen, or thereabouts; which by reason of her
greatnesse beyond the other, I will name the _Admirall_; and _Iohn
Rawlins_ Barke shall, if you please, be the _Vice-admirall_. These two
according to the time of the yeere, had a faire passage, and by the
eighteenth of the same moneth came to a place at the entring of the
straits, named _Trafflegar_: but the next morning, being in the sight of
_Gibraltar_, at the very mouth of the straits, the watch descried five
saile of ships, who as it seemed, used all the means they could to come
neere us, and we as we had cause, used the same means to go as farre
from them: yet did their _Admirall_ take in both his top sailes, that
either we might not suspect them, or that his owne company might come up
the closer together. At last perceiving us _Christians_, they fell from
devices to apparent