awn round his waist, and his cutlass hung from it.
The rest of the men were armed in the same manner; some of them had
also, muskets, and the others stood at their posts, near the guns. The
grapnels were loosened, and tubs of wadding, and boxes of cartridge
stood ready for use. In short, all was prepared for action.

"Master Tailtackle," said I, "your post is in the magazine. Lay aside
your cutlass; it is not your duty to lead the boarders."

"Master Timothy," said Bangs, "could you do without one of these
pikes?"

"Certainly, sir," replied Timothy, laughing, "but you do not intend to
lead the boarders yourself, do you, sir?"

"How do you know that?" returned Aaron, with a grim smile, "since I
have been fool enough to trust myself in this dancing cork of a
vessel;" as he spoke he laid aside his coat, unsheathed a cutlass, and
bound a red woolen cloth round his head.

The slaver, who was now hardly a cable's length from us, suddenly put
up his helm with the evident intention of running under our quarters,
but at this moment we poured a broadside into him. I could see the
white splinters fly from his side, and again there rang in our ears a
sharp piercing cry, followed by that long, melancholy howl already
described.

"We have hit some of the poor blacks again," said Tailtackle, who was
still on deck.

But we had no further time for observation, for the Spaniard returned
our broadside with the same cold-blooded precision as before.

"Down with the helm and let her swing round," cried I--"cross his
quarters--forward there--out with the sweeps, and hold her steady--that's
right--now run over a gun and let him have it--steady boys--aim
well--fire!"

We now lay directly across the stern of the slaver, hardly thirty feet
from him, and although he defended himself with great determination
and courage, pouring upon us a perfect shower of musket balls from
his rigging and cabin windows, yet I saw very clearly that in
consequence of the skill with which our helm was managed, enabling us
to retain a raking position, that our fire was making terrible havoc
on board of him.

"Hurrah! his foremast's down. Well done, boys; pepper him well, whilst
he is in confusion. There goes his gaff and flag, but don't stop
firing on that account; it did not come down with his consent. I told
you so--he has run it up again. Good, my lads; you have shot the main
yard away now, and he can't escape us."

Nimbly as monkeys, two sailors cl