got up. The schooner, having
no canvas aloft to steady her, was pitching and tumbling about in an
awful way. Our fate was sealed. I remembered all the dreadful stories
I had heard, and the atrocities committed by these Greek pirates; but I
had little time for thought. On came the pirate; showers of
musket-balls swept our decks, and round shot came crashing through our
side. In another instant her grappling-irons were thrown aboard, and as
a huge spider catches a miserable fly, so did our big antagonist hold us
struggling and writhing in his grasp.

We had fought as long as we could; but what could we do against such
overwhelming numbers? We did not strike to the villains at all events,
for we had not a man by this time left on his legs to haul down the
flag, even had we wished to do so. The pirates, with fierce shouts,
waiting till the sides of the vessels rolled together, leaped, sword in
hand, on our decks. The captain and mates continued fighting to the
last, as if resolved to sell their lives dearly. Some were driven
overboard, several were knocked down below, and so saved their lives for
the moment, while the greater number were unable to lift hand or foot in
their defence. I was among them. A shot grazed me, I could scarcely
tell where, my whole body was in such agony; but overcome with it I lay
without power of moving. This was fortunate, for had any of us shown
signs of life, the pirates would have despatched as at once. As it was,
they merely shoved us out of the way, while they set to work to get out
the cargo. Though I could not move, my eye was able to follow them, and
from the expeditious way in which they proceeded about their work, they
were evidently well practised in it. Every moment I expected to find my
existence finished by having the point of a sword or a pike run into me.
I suppose after this that I went off into a swoon, for when I again
looked up, the pirates had left the vessel, and I could see the topsails
of their brig, just as they were sheering off. My first impulse was
that of joy to think that I was saved. I tried to rise, and fancied
that I might have strength sufficient to do so; but then I thought it
better to be perfectly still, lest the pirates should see me moving
about, and take it into their heads to fire and perhaps finish me. My
feelings were very dreadful. I knew not how many of my companions might
have escaped. Perhaps I might be soon the only survivor left