. She now rounded to, and gave
us her broadside of three guns: they were well directed, and did us some
damage in the upper works and rigging; but still more in frightening the
people, who were now running down below, notwithstanding the exertions
of the mate, Bramble, one or two of the seamen, and myself; but our fate
was soon decided by the captain, who cried out, "It's useless contending
against such a superior force." With this observation he ran aft and
hauled down the colours. As soon as the men perceived this they all
left the guns; at another broadside from the privateer they all
scampered down below, and at the same time the captain went down into
his cabin. There was none but the mate, the boatswain, Bramble, and
myself left on deck.

"Pleasant," said Bramble. "I thought as much. Well, Tom, here we are,
in for it. Come with me to the helm, for these French fellows will
board, and they make very free with their cutlasses, even after colours
are hauled down. Well," said he, as he walked aft, "I did not think to
see the English flag so disgraced. Poor Bessy, too! Well, never mind.
I say, mate, just let go the weather main-braces and bowlines, and
square the yards, for it's better to be as humble as possible, now that
we can't help ourselves; and do you and the boatswain go down below, for
they cut right and left, these fellows. They do pay a little more
civility to pilots, as they aren't belonging to the ship."

This advice of Bramble's, which was very good, was followed by the mate
and boatswain.

"Shall I run down and look after our kits?" said I to Bramble.

"No, Tom, don't have anything in your hand, or they will take it from
you, and most likely give you a rap on the head with a cutlass at the
same time; for privateer's-men of all nations are little better than
pirates, and don't know how to behave in victory. Just keep where you
are--look as if you had nothing to do with the ship except the steering
of her. Here they come!"

As he spoke the lugger touched our weather side, at the same time
lowering down her foresail and mainsail with no little noise and
confusion; in a second or two there were thirty of their men on our
decks, flourishing their cutlasses, and looking round with their pistols
ready cocked in their left hands for somebody to let fly at. At last
they came aft. "Pilot!" cried Bramble, taking off his hat. I did the
same. With reiterated _sacres_ and _diables_ of every descr