ame down on
deck in a sitting posture, and had repeated the blow when he failed to
recover his feet after the first wound.

One of the seamen who had not provided himself with shoes now received a
severe wound; and after Prose had been handed into one of the boats, a
consultation was held as to the most eligible method of proceeding.

It was soon decided that it would be the extreme of folly to attack such
desperate people below, where they would have a great advantage with
their creeses over the cutlasses of the seamen; and as there appeared no
chance of inducing them to come up, it was determined to cut the cables,
and tow the vessel alongside of the frigate, who could sink her with a
broadside.

The cables were cut, and a few men being left on board to guard the
hatchways, the boats commenced towing out; but scarcely had they got way
on her when, to their astonishment, a thick smoke was followed by the
flames bursting out in every direction, consuming all on board with a
rapidity that seemed incredible. From the deck, the fire mounted to the
rigging; thence to the masts and sails; and before the boats could be
backed astern to take them out, those who had been left were forced to
leap into the sea to save themselves from the devouring element. The
pirates had themselves set fire to the vessel. Most of them remained
below, submitting to suffocation with sullen indifference. Some few, in
the agony of combustion; were perceived, through the smoke, to leap
overboard, and seek in preference a less painful death. The boats laid
upon their oars, and witnessed the scene in silence and astonishment.

"Desperate and determined to the last," observed the first-lieutenant.

In a very few minutes the proa, whose fabric was of the slightest
materials, filled, and went down. The last column of smoke, divided
from her by the water, ascended in the air as she sank down below, and
nought remained but a few burnt fragments of bamboo, which lay floating
on the wave. A few seconds after the vessel had disappeared, one of the
pirates rose to the surface.

"There is a man alive yet," observed Courtenay. "Let us save him if we
can."

The boat, by his directions, pulled a few strokes of the oars, and
having rather too much way, shot ahead, so as to bring the man close to
the counter of the boat. Courtenay leaned over the gunwale to haul him
in; the malignant wretch grasped him by the collar with his left hand,
and with his r