I was a good swimmer, and got rid of my shoes and jacket, and made up my mind for a long swim, for the frigate was too busy with the brig for any one to pay attention to us, but it did not take long to finish it.
"In five minutes it was over.

The brig lay dismasted, and scarce a dozen men out of the forty she carried were alive to throw down their arms on deck and cry that they surrendered.

Then the frigate's boats were lowered; two rowed in our direction, while two put off to the brig.
There were only nine of us picked up, for from the first broadside till we sank a heavy musketry fire had been poured down upon the deck, and as we were not more than fifty yards away from the frigate, the men had been just mowed down.

We were all ironed as soon as we were brought on board.

After that we were brought up one by one and questioned.
"'You are young to be engaged in such work as this,' the captain said when my turn came.
"'I was forced into it against my will, sir,' I said.
"'Yes,' the captain said, 'I suppose so; that's the story each of the prisoners tells.