He had just come on deck when the gun was fired, and saw the water thrown up just under the ship’s stern, and the shot was dancing away to leeward.  The next shot struck the merchantman on the quarter.  A moment later the vessel was brought up into the wind and a broadside of eight guns fired.  Two of them struck the hull of the privateer, another wounded the mainmast, while the rest cut holes through the sails and struck the water a quarter of a mile to windward.  With an oath the captain of the privateer brought his vessel up into the wind, and then payed off on the other tack.

The merchantman carried much heavier metal than he had given her credit for.  As she came round too, some redcoats were seen on her deck.  Apparently well satisfied with the display she had made of her strength, the ship bore off again and went quietly, on her way, while the privateer was hove to and preventer stays put to the mainmast.  Ralph remained below for some time; he heard the men savagely cursing, and thought it was best for him not to attract attention at present.  The sails were lowered and the brig drifted quietly all day; but about ten o’clock Ralph heard a creaking of blocks, and knew that the sails had been hoisted again.  Half an hour later the watch below was ordered to come quietly on deck.  Ralph went up with the rest.

For a quarter of an hour he could see nothing, and then he made out a dark mass a few hundred yards to leeward; immediately afterward the helm was put up, and the brig run down toward the stranger.  Two minutes later there was a sharp hail, followed instantly by shouts and the sound of feet; but before the crew could gain the deck and prepare for defence the brig was alongside, and a moment later her crew sprang upon the decks of the stranger.  A few blows were given; but the resistance offered was slight, and in a very short time the crew were disarmed or driven below, and the vessel in the possession of the privateer.  She proved to be a small bark on her way out to the Mediterranean.  She carried only twenty hands and four small guns, and was laden with hardware.

The privateer’s crew at once set to work upon her.  At first Ralph could not understand what they were about, but he was not long in discovering.  The wedges round the mainmast were knocked out, the topmast lowered to the deck, the shrouds and stays slacked off, and then the mast was lifted and carried on board the brig.  As soon as this was done, the second mate of the brig with eight sailors went on board as a prize crew.  Everything was made taut and trim for them by the brig’s crew.  The English prisoners had already been disarmed and battened down in the hold, and the prize crew then hoisted sail and prepared to take her under mizzen and foremast only to a French port.  This, if she had luck, she would reach in safety, but if on the way she fell in with a British privateer or cruiser she would of course fall an easy prey.