Headed by their officers, the crew of the privateer clutched their cutlasses with firm grip, and met the invaders.
It was a terrible fight.
Confined within the small space of the deck of the schooner, four dozen men were cutting and slashing at each other with savage fury.
Lieutenant Smith of the Frolic was wounded dangerously almost the minute he landed.
The deck was covered with blood.
So many men were killed that their bodies became a menace and a danger to the living, who fell over them and endangered their lives.
Tempest had struck terrifically at one of the British, but missed because the man stepped back, and the privateer's way was blocked by a dead body.
With wonderful celerity Tempest picked up the corpse and threw it overboard.
His example was instantly followed, and every dead body was given to the waves, and alas! some of the wounded met the same watery grave.
The fight did not last long.