Then the canoes were allowed to go their way, but their way was a very different one from any which could have been expected by the captain of the ship.
They rowed off into the darkness instead of going toward the town, and waited until nearly daybreak, then they boldly made for the man-of-war, one canoe attacking her on one side and the other on the other.

Before the Spanish could comprehend what had happened there were more than twenty pirates upon their decks, the dreaded L'Olonnois at their head.
In such a case as this cannon were of no use, and when the crew tried to rush upon deck, they found that cutlasses and pistols did not avail very much better.

The pirates had the advantage; they had overpowered the watch, and were defending the deck against all comers from below.

It requires a very brave sailor to stick his head out of a hatchway when he sees three or four cutlasses ready to split it open.

But there was some stout fighting on board; the officers came out of their cabins, and some of the men were able to force their way out into the struggle.