The Privateersman | Page 8

execution, and at last they ceased firing,
waiting till a breeze should spring up, which might enable them to
renew the contest with better success.
At this time it was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the combat
had lasted about five hours. We refreshed ourselves after the fatigue
and exertion which we had undergone, and made every preparation for
a renewal of the fight. During the engagement we were so excited that
we had no time to think; but now that we were cool again and
unoccupied we had time to reflect upon our position, and we began to
feel dejected and apprehensive. Fatigued with exertion, we were weak
and dispirited. We knew that our best men were slain or groaning under
their severe wounds, that the enemy were still numerous, and, as they
persevered after so dreadful a slaughter, that they were of
unquestionable bravery and resolution. Good fortune, and our captain's

superior seamanship, had, up to the present, enabled us to make a good
fight, but fortune might desert us, and our numbers were so reduced
that if the enemy continued resolute we must be overpowered. Our
gallant captain perceived the despondency that prevailed, and
endeavoured to remove it by his own example and by persuasion. After
praising us for the resolution and courage we had already shown, he
pointed out to us that, whatever might be the gallantry of the officers, it
was clear that the men on board of the opposing vessels were awed by
their heavy loss and want of success, and that if they made one more
attempt to take us by the board and failed, which he trusted they would
do, no persuasion would ever induce them to try it again, and the
captains of the vessels would give over such an unprofitable combat.
He solemnly averred that the colours should never be struck while he
survived, and demanded who amongst us were base enough to refuse to
stand by them. Again we gave him three cheers, but our numbers were
few, and the cheers were faint compared with the first which had been
given, but still we were resolute, and determined to support our captain
and the honour of our flag. Captain Weatherall took care that this
feeling should not subside--he distributed the grog plentifully; at our
desire he nailed the colours to the mast, and we waited for a renewal of
the combat with impatience. At four o'clock in the afternoon a breeze
sprang up, and both vessels trimmed their sails and neared us fast--not
quite in such gallant trim as in the morning, it is true--but they appeared
now to have summoned up a determined resolution. Silently they came
up, forcing their way slowly through the water; not a gun was fired, but
the gaping mouths of the cannon, and their men motionless at their
quarters, portended the severity of the struggle which was now to
decide this hitherto well-contested trial for victory. When within half a
cable's length, we saluted them with three cheers, they returned our
defiance, and running up on each side of us, the combat was renewed
with bitterness.
The Frenchman would not this time lay us on board until he was certain
that the Spaniard had boarded us to leeward; he continued luffing to
windward and plying us with broadsides until we were grappled with
the Spaniard, and then he bore down and laid his gunwale on our bow.
The Spaniard had already boarded us on the quarter, and we were

repelling this attack when the Frenchman laid us on the bow. We
fought with desperation, and our pikes gave us such an advantage over
the swords and knives of the Spaniards that they gave ground, and,
appalled by the desperate resistance they encountered, quitted our
decks, strewed with their dead and dying shipmates, and retreated in
confusion to their own vessel. But before this repulse had been effected,
the French had boarded us on the weather-bow, and driving before
them the few men who had been sent forward to resist them, had gained
our main deck, and forced their way to the rise of the quarter-deck,
where all our remaining men were now collected. The combat was now
desperate, but after a time our pikes, and the advantage of our position,
appeared to prevail over numbers. We drove them before us--we had
regained the main deck, when our brave commander, who was at our
head, and who had infused spirit into us all, received a bullet through
his right wrist; shifting his sword into his left hand, he still pressed
forward encouraging us, when a ball entered his breast and he dropped
dead. With his fall fell the courage and fortitude of his crew, so long
sustained--and to complete the mischief, the lieutenant and