Off the coast of Africa we exchanged signals
with passing vessels, from whom we learnt that pirates had been sighted
in close proximity, and one morning we noticed two schooners bearing
down upon us. As the wind was in favour of the pirates, for such we
judged them to be, we could not hope to outrun them, our ship being
foul after her long voyage, so the men were mustered and made ready for
action.
While these preparations were on foot I could not help admiring the
cool and fearless manner in which the English sailors set about their
work. There was no hurry or confusion in their methods. Each man knew
his duty, and was ready to do it.
With shouts and yells from the pirates on board of her, one of the
schooners now ranged alongside, and the grappling irons were hove
athwart our bulwarks. I sent a shower of grape from the gun, of which I
had charge, upon the deck of the schooner, killing four of the pirates
and wounding others, but this failed to stop the boarding party, who
now swarmed upon us. The fight became general, and, led by Captain
Bland, we engaged the robbers with such goodwill that we had almost
succeeded in driving them over the side when the second schooner came
up, and a fresh horde of ruffians joined in the attack.
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