nearer, for about half a league,
when we observed that the deck of the strange vessel swarmed with
armed men, and her people were busy in getting out their boats. Upon
seeing this, our captain was not a little frightened, and ordered a
change in the course of the ship; but it was too late, for we were
already within reach of the pirate, who soon hailed us, commanding our
captain to come on board of his vessel, and as his commands were not
obeyed, fired a broadside into us, which, however, did us no injury.
At the same time a boat, containing nine men, pushed off towards us.
They presented a most ferocious appearance, being armed with guns,
swords, and long knives. They boarded our brig, as we offered not the
least resistance.

They then commanded the captain, the ship's carpenter, and myself, to
enter their boat, and sent us with an armed escort of four men, who
handled us most roughly, to the schooner, where the pirate captain
received us with deep curses. He was a gigantic, powerful, well-formed
man, of a pale, sallow complexion, large prominent eyes, a hooked
nose, and a huge mouth, and glossy hair and beard. He might be about
thirty years old, and spoke broken English with a Spanish accent.

"Have you specie on board?" he asked.

"None at all," answered our Captain, thoughtlessly enough, for we had
only too much of it, and unfortunately the papers referring to it lay
upon the cabin table.

"The devil," cried the robber, "do you take me for a child? All
home-bound vessels have money on board; give up yours quietly, and
depart in the devil's name whither you will."

The captain repeated his silly denial, and enraged the pirate still
further.

"Well," he said with frightful calmness, "if you will not give up the
money, I will throw your cargo overboard, and search for it myself.
If I find it, I'll lock you in your cabin, and burn your vessel with
every man on board."

After this threat he walked up and down the deck, and said more
quietly, turning to me:

"You must remain with us, for there is no one among my men who
thoroughly understands a helmsman's duty, and I must give myself more
rest, I am not well."

One can imagine my sensations. In the meanwhile supper had been
prepared, and the pirate officers, six or seven in number, invited us
politely to partake of it; we accepted, as we did not wish to
displease them. The meal consisted of onion soup with bread, tolerable
fish, and a very good ham, with ple