Their approach was detected on the American vessel, and a rapid fire with small arms and cannon opened upon them, to which they paid no attention, but pressed doggedly on.

In a moment the boats surrounded the privateer--one on each bow, one on each side, and one under the stern--and the boarders began to swarm up the sides like cats.

It was a bloody hand-to-hand contest that followed, in which every weapon, from cutlass and clubbed musket down to bare hands, was employed.

Heavy shot, which had been piled up in readiness on deck, were thrown into the boats in an effort to sink them.

Hundreds of loaded muskets were ranged along the rail, so that the firing was not interrupted to reload.