gen'lemen to cut him."

The captain, leaving the deck in charge of the first mate, descended
with us, and did ample justice to the plentiful meal Quambo had spread
on the table. The captain, before going on deck again, advised us to
turn in. We were, however, too anxious to do so, notwithstanding his
assertions that all was likely to go well, and we therefore soon joined
him on deck. We found him looking out over the larboard quarter, the
direction in which the stranger was most likely to be seen. Although we
swept the ocean with our glasses round two-thirds of the horizon, she
was nowhere visible. At length, trusting that the captain really was
right, with our minds tolerably relieved, we went below and turned into
our berths. Still, though I slept, I could not get the thought of the
pirate out of my mind. I dreamed that I was again on deck, and that I
saw our pursuer, like some monster of the deep, her canvas towering high
above our own towards the sky, close to us. Then she poured forth her
broadsides, her shot with a crashing, rending sound passing across our
deck. Still we remained unharmed, and I heard the captain say, "Give it
them again, my lads--give it them again." Our crew sprung to their
guns; but there came another broadside from the enemy which carried away
our masts and spars, pierced our bulwarks, knocking our boats to pieces.
Still Harry and I stood on deck uninjured, and our crew appeared is
undaunted and active as before. I have often heard of people "fighting
their battles o'er again;" but in this instance I fought mine before it
occurred. I was awakened by the stamping sound of the feet of the watch
overhead as they ran along with the halyards; then came the cry, "All
hands on deck." I jumped out of my berth, and found Harry slipping into
his clothes. No one else was in the cabin. We hurried on deck, where
the officers and the watch below with the idlers had assembled. I was
surprised to find the brig once more before the wind and the crew
engaged in making all sail. The captain was standing aft issuing his
orders, while the mates and boatswain were aiding the men in pulling and
hauling. We joined them without asking questions. Some of the crew
were aloft setting the top-gallant-sails and royals. I wondered why
this was done, but there was no time to ask questions. At last, all the
sail the brig could carry was set. I then, having nothing further to
do, went aft and asked the ca