hauling your wind, just now, sir?"

"Yesh, Yesh," at length responded a voice from the merchantinan.

"Something wrong here," said Mr Splinter. "Back your maintopsail, sir, and
hoist a light at the peak; I shall send a boat on board of you.
Boatswain's mate, pipe away the crew of the jolly boat." We also hove to,
and were in the act of lowering down the boat, when the officer rattled
out. "Keep all fast, with the boat; I can't comprehend that chap's
manoeuvres for the soul of me. He has not hove to." Once more we were
within pistol--shot of him. "Why don't you heave to, sir?" All silent.

Presently we could perceive a confusion and noise of struggling on board,
and angry voices, as if people were trying to force their way up the
hatchways from below; and a heavy thumping on the deck, and a creaking of
the blocks, and rattling of the cordage, while the mainyard was first
braced one way, and then another, as if two parties were striving for the
mastery. At length a voice hailed distinctly "We are captured by a"--A
sudden sharp cry, and a splash overboard, told of some fearful deed.

"We are taken by a privateer or pirate," sung out another voice. This was
followed by a heavy crunching blow, as when the spike of a butcher's axe is
driven through a bullock's forehead deep into the brain.

By this time all hands had been called, and the word had been passed to
clear away two of the foremost carronades on the starboard side, and to
load them with grape.

"On board there--get below, all you of the English crew, as I shall fire
with grape," sung out the captain.