were issued
to all the ships to prepare for some severe work.

At length, after well-nigh a week had passed, we made the signal to
weigh anchor, and the whole fleet before a light northerly breeze stood
under full sail towards the Bay of Tunis.

Just as the evening of the 3rd of April, 1655, was approaching, we stood
into the bay, where we brought up, the now well-known towers and
minarets of Tunis in sight. The night which came on might be the last
we knew for many a brave fellow. It was spent in preparation for the
work we were destined to undertake the next day. Ere the sun rose a gun
from the flag-ship was fired as a signal to the crews of the whole fleet
to offer up prayer to Almighty God for protection and success in the
struggle about to commence in our righteous cause.

It was a solemn time. Not a sound was heard except the yokes of the
ministers until those of the congregations joined in prayer, or burst
forth into a hymn of praise to the all-powerful One whose protection
they sought. Then rising from our knees we weighed anchor, the sails
were let fall, the guns run out, and, led by the _Newcastle_, which was
quickly followed by other frigates, the big ships stood into the
harbour. Of these the _Saint Andrew_ was the first. Close astern came
the _Plymouth_, and we in the _Saint George_ followed in her wake, not
casting anchor until we had got within musket shot of the batteries, nor
was a shot fired until we had furled sails.

So astonished were the barbarians that their artillery remained mute.
It was not for long; we setting the example, every ship opened with her
broadside, to which the pirates speedily replied, their shot coming
crashing on board through our bulwarks, or tearing their way between our
masts and rigging. And now commenced the most tremendous din and uproar
our ears had ever heard, the echoes of the guns reverberating among the
crumbling walls and falling houses.

For two hours the battle raged, the sky obscured, and the castles and
batteries almost concealed by the dense masses of smoke, on which a
lurid glare was reflected by the flames belched forth from the guns.
The smoke blown in the faces of the pirates tended to conceal the ships
from their sight, and prevented them aiming their pieces with accuracy.
Not for an instant did our fire slacken, until the guns in the batteries
were dismounted or burst, or the gunners killed or driven from their
post.

Within us, higher up th