our throats cut to a certainty," he cried out. "They
will not leave one of us alive to go home to our disconsolate widows to
tell them all that has happened. I know them too well, the villains!
Arrah! it was an unfortunate moment that ever I was brought to tumble
twice into the hands of such gentry."

"We are not in their hands yet, and if we make a good fight of it, maybe
we never shall," exclaimed Captain Hassall. "My lads, if you'll stand
by me, I'll hold out as long as the craft can float. We beat off this
same fellow once before--let's try if we can't beat him off again."

This brief address inspirited our crew, and, almost worn out with
fatigue as they were, they promised to defend themselves to the last.
My sensations, as we saw the enemy approach, were not altogether
pleasant. We might beat him off in the end; but even that, in our
present condition, was not likely; and how many of our number might not
be struck down in the struggle! In the meantime, the men armed
themselves with pistols and cutlasses, powder and shot were got up, and
every preparation made for the fight. The enemy approached, but as he
had run to leeward, it was some time before he could work up to pass us
to windward. We had carried a stay from the mainmast to the bowsprit,
and on this we managed to set a sail, so that the ship was tolerably
under control. When the enemy, therefore, at last passed under our
stern, we were able to luff up and avoid the raking fire he poured in.
No damage was done to any of our people, but a shot struck the mainmast,
and wounded it so badly that it was evident that, with any additional
strain, it would be carried away altogether. Putting up the helm, we
again ran off before the wind. The enemy was soon after us, but though
he came up abeam in the heavy sea still running, his aim was of
necessity uncertain, and for some time not a shot struck us, while
several of ours struck him. This encouraged our men, who gave vent to
their satisfaction whenever he was hulled, or a shot went through his
sails. Our hopes of success were, however, soon brought to an end, for,
as we were compelled to luff up suddenly, to avoid being raked, as he
was about to cross our bows, the heavy strain on our wounded mast
carried it away, and with it the mizen-topmast, and there we lay a
helpless wreck in the trough of the sea, at the mercy of the enemy.
Still, as we could work our guns we would not give in, but hoisting our
f