with the
studding-sails, send down the royals," and presently afterwards, when
this was done, "Furl top-gallant-sails." He had evidently made up his
mind that escape was impossible, and was determined to fight the
stranger should she prove an enemy. Active as were our crew, some
minutes passed before sail was shortened, by which time the stranger had
crept up on our quarter. She had hitherto kept all her canvas standing.
We were still running before the wind. I saw the captain give a steady
look at her.

"I know her now. She is the `Vulture,' and we can expect no mercy if we
are taken," he exclaimed, turning to Harry and me, his countenance
exhibiting the anxiety he felt in the discovery, although the next
moment he spoke in the same firm tone as usual. "The men stationed at
the starboard guns be ready to fire," he cried out. "Brace the yards to
larboard."

Before, however, the words were out of his mouth, the stranger's crew
were seen swarming aloft. The yards and tops were covered with men, and
with a rapidity far excelling anything we were capable of, the
studding-sails were taken in, the royals and top-gallant-sails furled,
and just as our helm was put down, and we were about to luff across her
bow, she luffed up and let fly a broadside of ten guns in return for our
three. At the same moment, as I looked aft, expecting still to see the
ensign of Old England flying from her peak, I beheld a black piratical
flag with the death's head and cross-bones, which had evidently been
hoisted to strike terror into the hearts of our crew. At that instant I
heard the same crashing, rending sounds which had disturbed my slumbers,
as the shot tore their way through our bulwarks, some striking the
masts, others cutting away the shrouds and knocking a boat to pieces. I
saw one man fall at the after-guns, while two more were binding
handkerchiefs round their arms, showing that they had been struck either
by shot or splinters. Having missed the opportunity of raking the
enemy, we were now placed in a disadvantageous position to leeward.
Still Captain Magor was not the man to give in. He ordered "Long Tom"
to be dragged from its present position, and run through the foremost
port.

"If the enemy have more guns than we have, we must make amends by firing
ours twice as fast as she does," he cried out in a cheerful tone.
"Cheer up, my lads. Toss the pieces in, and give the villains more than
they bargain for."

Harry a