So reasonable did this every way appear, that I immediately consented, and we went directly on board.  As soon as we came on board, my partner calls joyfully out, That they had stopped the leak? “Well, thank God,” said I, “but pray let us weigh anchor forthwith.”—­Weigh, said he, what is the meaning of this hurry?  “Pray ask no questions,” said I, “but all hands to work, without losing a moment’s time.”  Upon which, in great surprise, the Captain was called, who immediately ordered the anchor to be got up; and though the tide was not quite down, yet being assisted with a little land breeze, we stood to sea.  I then called my partner into the cabin, and related the story at large, which was confirmed and more amplified by the two men I had brought on board.  Scarce had we finished our discourse upon this head, but a sailor came to the cabin door, with a message from the Captain, that we were chased by five sloops full of armed men.  “Very well,” said I, “it is plain now there is something in it.”  And so, going upon deck, I told all the men there was a design for seizing the ship, and of executing us for pirates; and asked them whether they would faithfully stand by us, and by one another?  To which they unanimously replied, “That they would fight to their last drop of blood.”  I then asked the Captain, which way he thought best for us to manage the battle? Sir, said he, the only method is to keep them off with our great shot as long as we are able, and then have recourse to our small arms:  and when both these fail us, then retire to close quarters, when perhaps the enemy wanting materials, can neither break open our bulk heads, nor get in upon us.  Meantime, the gunner was ordered to bring two guns to bear fore and aft out of the steerage, and so load them with musket-bullets and small pieces of old iron; and the deck being cleared, we prepared for the engagement, still, however, keeping out at sea.  The boats followed us, with all the sail they could make, and we could perceive the two foremost were English, which out-sailed the rest by two leagues, and which we found would come up with us:  hereupon, we fired a gun without a ball, intimating that they should bring to, and we put out a flag of truce, as a signal for parley; but finding them crowding after us, till they came within shot, we took in our white, and hanging out the red flap, immediately fired at them with ball:  we then called to them with a speaking trumpet, bidding them at their peril keep off.

But all this signified nothing; for depending upon the strength that followed them, they were resolutely bent for mischief:  hereupon I ordered them to bring the ship to, by which means, they lying upon our broadside, we let fly at them at once, one of whom carried away the stern of the hindermost boat, and obliged them not only to take down their sail, but made them all run to the head of the boat, to keep them from sinking, and so she lay by, having enough