-breeze died away, and we lay becalmed, unable
to get nearer. On this the boats were ordered out, and two of the
lieutenants, the master, and a couple of mates took the command. Dicky
Esse and I accompanied the Second-Lieutenant. Our orders were to board
the prows, and if they offered any resistance, to destroy them. The
water was smooth and beautifully blue, while the rising sun tipped the
topmost heights of the lofty hills, which rose, as it were, out of the
ocean, feathered almost from their summits to the water's edge with
graceful trees. There lay the brig, while the prows were clustered like
so many beasts of prey around their quarry. The pirates seemed in no
way alarmed at our approach. Our leader, however, had made up his mind,
in spite of their numbers to board the brig, and then, should the prows
interfere, to attack them. As soon as this resolution was come to, we
dashed forward to get on board her without delay. The pirates seemed
scarcely aware of our intention, and before any of the prows had lifted
an anchor we were on board. Some forty or fifty dark-skinned,
villainous-looking fellows had possession of the brig, but they were
probably unable to use the big guns, and though they made some little
resistance, we soon drove them forward, a considerable number being cut
down, the rest jumping overboard, and attempting to swim towards the
prows, which, instantly getting out their sweeps, began to approach us.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

The brig was ours, but we were not to be allowed to carry her off
without a struggle. There were certainly not less than twenty prows,
each of them carrying from fifty to a hundred men; and though the
frigate's guns would have dispersed them like chaff before the wind, she
was too far off to render us any assistance. We had therefore to depend
upon the guns of the brig for our defence. They had all been discharged
probably by her former crew, who had struggled desperately in her
defence. Several of them lay about the deck, cut down when the pirates
boarded. They appeared to be Dutchmen, with two or three natives. One
of the mates and I, with a couple of men, were ordered down immediately
we got on board to bring up shot and powder from the magazine. On our
way I looked into the cabin. There, a sight met my eyes which made me
shudder. Close to the entrance lay on his back a tall, fine looking old
gentleman with silvery locks, while further in, two young women, the