nd I hastened to one of the guns, at which three of the crew had
already been killed or disabled, and we exerted ourselves to the utmost.
I confess that I have a somewhat confused idea of what now occurred. I
was thinking only of how I could best help in loading and running out
the gun at which I had stationed myself. All my thoughts and energies
were concentrated on that; but I remember hearing the cries and groans
of my shipmates as they were shot down, the tearing and crashing of the
shot as they struck our devoted craft, the blocks falling from aloft,
the shouts of the officers, and the occasional cheers of the men, and
seeing the ropes hanging in festoons, the sails in tatters, wreck and
confusion around us, with wreaths of smoke. Then I remember observing
the pirate ship, which had approached us closer and closer, come with a
louder crash than any previous sounds alongside. Grapplings were thrown
on to our bulwarks, then a score or more of ruffianly looking fellows
with hangers flashing leapt down on our decks. We fired our pistols and
drew our own blades, and for a few minutes fought with desperation; then
Harry and I, with Tom Tubbs and the captain, were borne back towards the
poop, where, as we stood for a few seconds, keeping our enemies at bay,
we saw that, overwhelmed by numbers, all hope of successful resistance
was vain. Captain Magor shouted to us to sell our lives dearly, but
just then I heard a voice exclaim, "Drop your weapons and you shall have
your lives, for you have fought like brave fellows." Gazing at the
speaker, whom I had not before recognised among the boarders, I beheld
one whose countenance I knew. Yes! I had no doubt about the matter, he
was Captain Roderick Trunnion. At his heels followed a huge mastiff,
who growled fiercely as his master was addressing us. Whether or not
Captain Roderick recognised Harry or me, we neither of us could tell.

"We had better make a virtue of necessity," said the captain, dropping
his sword; and I with the rest of the party did the same, for we could
not suppose that our captors intended afterwards to slaughter us. One
of the officers of the pirate, stepping up, took our weapons, which we
handed to him; and as our assailants now separated, apparently to
plunder the vessel, the fearful condition of our deck was exposed to
view. In every direction were our poor fellows dead or wounded,
including the two mates, one of whom had his head knocked off, w