In spite of the frantic efforts of the helmsman, the pirate ship flew up into the wind, her maintopsail was taken aback, and she was hove to in a helpless state.
Then for the first time I could see the Gannet coming down on the Friend of the Sea, the sun shining on her clouds of weatherworn canvas.
Having the weather gauge, she soon ranged up and opened fire. Why she had not done so before I could not understand, till a crowd of the pirates came for'ard, dragging with them my four men. While the chase lasted they had, so I afterwards learned, suspended their prisoners over the stern, thus preventing our humane captain from opening fire; but, now the chase was at an end, there was no further use for the doomed men.
Blindfolded, and with their arms tied behind their backs, the unfortunate men were marched to the entry port and pushed into the sea in sight of their comrades, who were powerless to prevent yet ready to avenge their deaths.
Both ships were firing rapidly, the shot from the Gannet whistling through the pirate's rigging and crashing through her hull at every broadside.
Though overmatched both in number and weight of guns, the Friend of the Sea fought bravely, and from my elevated position I could see the men stricken down by dozens, yet their fire was vigorously kept up.
Being sure that escape was impossible, the Gannet devoted all her attention to the hull of her foe, at the same time shortening the distance between them.
Now through the drifting smoke I could distinguish the crew of the Gannet. There was Captain Poynings standing unmoved amid the crash and din of the fight, the master standing by the wheel, his head bound with a blood-stained scarf, several men, still in death, encumbering her decks, while amid the throng of excited fighters a continuous procession of wounded was winding its way towards the main hatch.
Finally both vessels came within a few yards of each other, and I heard the order given: "Prepare to board!"
The pirates had now abandoned their guns, and had begun to cluster for'ard, under the shelter of the bulwarks, each man armed with pistol and cutlass. They knew what the issue meant, and each man prepared to sell his life dearly.