“There’s no mistaking that, captain;” said Oriel Porphyry, who had been watching the proceedings around him with considerable interest.
“She’s a pirate, sir, there’s not a doubt on ’t,” observed the old man; “but she’ll find we are not to be caught napping; and as she’s ventured to begin the game, we’ll just see who can play at it best. Give her a taste of the long gun, Boggle.”
“Ay, ay, sir;” replied the second lieutenant.
“I must bear a hand in this, Hearty;” said the young merchant, unable to restrain his eagerness to join in the approaching fight.
“As you please, sir,” rejoined the captain; “and as we know you are a fighter, and one o’ the right sort, we shall be very glad o’ your company. Here’s a capital cutlass, which is much at your service.”
“No, thank you; I’ll go and get my own arms;” replied Oriel, and he immediately left the deck.
A long brass thirty-two pounder under the management of an experienced gunner was now got ready, and fired with such precision as to make the splinters fly from her hull.
“Pitch the shot into her as often as you can load and fire;” cried the captain.
“Ay, ay, sir;” said the man at the gun.
At this instant, a shot from the schooner brought down some of the standing and running rigging of the Albatross, and severed the jaws of the main-gaff. It was immediately answered by her long gun, which was kept rapidly firing, and ploughed up the decks of the pirate at every shot. During this, the Albatross by her superiority of sailing, kept wearing round the schooner, raking her fore and aft with a most destructive fire. They were now near enough to see that the decks of the supposed pirate were covered with men, among whom the thirty-two pounder had done considerable mischief. Finding that this sort of warfare was telling against them, the pirates altered their course, made sail, and ranged up within a cable’s length of their opponent, displaying at the same time in their ship a black flag soaring up to her main-peak. As they approached, the sound of many voices came over the waters, and the crew of the Albatross distinctly heard the pirates singing in full chorus:—