So terrible was the fire, that the privateer's men threw down the axes with which they were striving to cut away the floating spars, and ran below.
"Double shot your guns, and give her one broadside between wind and water!" the captain ordered.
"Haul on the sheets and braces, Mr.Green, and get her on her course again--the schooner won't trouble us, now." That craft had indeed, at first, luffed up, to come to the assistance of her consort; but on seeing the fall of the latter's mast, and that she was incapable of rendering any assistance, had again altered her course, feeling her incapacity to engage so redoubtable an opponent, single handed.

Three hearty cheers broke from all on board the Madras as, after pouring in a broadside at a distance of fifty yards, she left the brig behind her, and proceeded on her way.
"Then you don't care about taking prizes, captain ?" one of the passengers said, as they crowded round to congratulate him upon his easy, and almost bloodless, victory.
"No, taking prizes is not my business; and were I to weaken my crew, by sending some of them off in a prize, I might find myself short-handed if we met another of these gentlemen, or fell in with bad weather.

Besides, she would not be worth sending home." "The brig is signalling to her consort, sir," Mr.Green said, coming up.
"Ay, ay.

I expect she wants help badly enough.

I saw the chips fly close to her waterline, as we gave her that last broadside." "They are lowering a boat," one of the passengers said.
"So they are.