ir
skin somewhat dark, but very handsome, they seemed to me, and well
dressed, lay clasped in each other's arms, perfectly dead. It seemed as
if the same bullet had killed them both. We had no time, however, to
make further observations, but hurrying down we found that the magazine
was open. We immediately sent up a supply of powder, as well as
round-shot, which were stowed not far off. We were hurrying on deck
again, when I thought I saw something glittering under the ladder. It
was a man's eye. Repressing the impulse to cry out, I told Esse what I
had seen. At the same moment we sprang down and seized the man, Esse
receiving a severe cut as we did so. At the same instant a pistol
bullet whistled by my ear. It was shot at the magazine, but happily it
was at too great a distance to allow the flash to ignite the powder.
Fortunately my right hand was free, and drawing my dirk, I pinned our
antagonist through the throat to the deck. He still struggled, but
another blow from my companion silenced him for ever. I felt a
sensation come over me I had never before experienced, but it was not a
time to give way to my feelings. Had I not discovered the man, we
should probably in a few minutes have all been blown into the air. The
prows were coming rapidly on.

"If we had a breeze we should do well," observed our commanding officer,
"but if not we shall have tough work to keep these fellows off." Our
guns were loaded and run out. "We must not throw a shot away," observed
the Lieutenant. He kept looking out in hopes of a breeze. The topsails
had been loosened, and all was ready for making sail. "Cut the cable,"
he shouted at length.

"Sheet home the topsails! Man the starboard braces! Up with the helm!"
Our sails filled and the vessel's head slowly turned away from the
shore, just as the nearest prow was a dozen fathoms from us. A couple
of shot threw her crew into confusion, and before they could grapple us
we glided by them, every instant gathering way. "Give the next the
stem," shouted the Lieutenant. We did so, but we had scarcely way
enough to do the vessel much injury. The other prows were now gathering
thickly round us, and it was time for us to open on them with our guns.
The enemy had no great guns, but the instant we began firing, they
returned the compliment with matchlocks and javelins, which came flying
thickly on board. As we had to fight both sides at once, we had but
little time to use our