We immediately prepared for action, and while serving out to each man his store of cartridges, I found to my horror that the percussion tubes and caps for the boat's gun, the muskets and pistols, had been left on board the ship.

What was to be done?
no use swearing at anybody.
However, we pulled boldly out from under the shelter of the island, thinking to intimidate the slaver into heaving to.

In this we were grievously mistaken.
The vessel with her men standing ready at their guns seemed to put on a defiant air as she sailed majestically past us, and although we managed with lucifer matches to fire the boat's gun once or twice, she treated us with sublime contempt and went on her way into the creek, at the rate of six or seven miles an hour.

Though difficult to attack the vessel in the day time without firearms, I determined if possible not to lose altogether this splendid brig.

I waited therefore till after sunset, and then pulled silently into the creek with muffled oars.