The Privateersman | Page 6

of necessity, we put a good face upon it, and prepared to combat
against such desperate odds.
Captain Weatherall, who was the life and soul of his crew, was not
found wanting on such an emergency. With the greatest coolness and
intrepidity he gave orders to take in all the small sails, and awaited the
coming down of the enemy. When everything was ready for the
unequal conflict, he ordered all hands aft, and endeavoured to inspire us
with the same ardour which animated himself. He reminded us that we
had often fought and triumphed over vessels of much greater force than
our own; that we had already beaten off the French privateer on a
former occasion; that the Spaniard was not worth talking about, except
to swell the merits of the double victory, and that if once we came hand
to hand our cutlasses would soon prove our superiority. He reminded us
that our only safety depended upon our own manhood; for we had done

such mischief on the coast, and our recent descent upon the plantation
was considered in such a light, that we must not expect to receive
quarter if we were overcome. Exhorting us to behave well and to fight
stoutly, he promised us the victory. The men had such confidence in the
captain that we returned him three cheers, when, dismissing us to our
quarters, he ordered Saint George's ensign to be hoisted at the
main-masthead, and hove-to for the enemy.
The French schooner was the first which ranged up alongside; the wind
was light and she came slowly down to us. The captain of her hailed,
saying that his vessel was the Esperance, and our captain replied that he
knew it, and that they also knew that his was the Revenge. The French
captain, who had hove-to, replied very courteously that he was well
aware what vessel it was, and also of the valour and distinguished
reputation of Captain Weatherall, upon which Captain Weatherall, who
stood on the gunnel, took off his hat in acknowledgment of the
compliment.
Now Captain Weatherall was well-known, and it was also well-known
that the two vessels would meet with a severe resistance, which it
would be as well to avoid, as even if they gained the victory it would
not be without great loss of men. The French captain therefore
addressed Captain Weatherall again, and said he hoped, now that he
was opposed to so very superior a force, he would not make a useless
resistance, but, as it would be no disgrace to him, and would save the
lives of many of his brave men, his well-known humanity would induce
him to strike his colours.
To this request our commander gave a gallant and positive refusal. The
vessels lay now close to each other, so that a biscuit might have been
thrown on board of either. A generous expostulation ensued, which
continued till the Spanish vessel was a short distance astern of us.
"You now see our force," said the French captain. "Do not fight against
impossible odds, but spare your brave and devoted men."
"In return for your kind feeling towards me," replied Captain
Weatherall, "I offer you both quarter, and respect to private property,

upon hauling down your colours."
"You are mad, Captain Weatherall," said the French captain.
"You allow that I have lived bravely," replied Captain Weatherall; "you
shall find that I will conquer you, and if necessary I will also die
bravely. We will now fight. In courtesy, I offer you the first broadside."
"Impossible," said the French captain, taking off his hat.
Our captain returned the salute, and then, slipping down from the
gunwale, ordered the sails to be filled, and after a minute, to give the
Frenchman time to prepare, he fired off in the air the fusee which he
held in his hand, as a signal for the action to begin. We instantly
commenced the work of death by pouring in a broadside. It was
returned with equal spirit, and a furious cannonading ensued for several
minutes, when the Spaniard ranged up on our lee quarter with his
rigging full of men to board us. Clapping our helm a-weather, and
hauling our fore-sheets to windward, we fell off athwart his hawse, and
raked him with several broadsides fore and aft; our guns having been
loaded with langridge and lead bullets, and his men being crowded
together forward, ready to leap on board of us, her deck became a
slaughter-house. The officers endeavoured in vain to animate their men,
who, instead of gaining our decks, were so intimidated by the carnage
that they forsook their own. The Frenchman, perceiving the
consternation and distress of his consort, to give her an opportunity of
extricating herself from her perilous condition, now put his helm
a-weather,