See if you cannot knock away a spar." The sloop was coming up again to the wind and, as she was nearly stem on, the gun cracked out again.

A cheer broke from the lugger as her opponent's foretop mast fell over her side, with all its hamper.

Round the sloop came, and delivered the other broadside.
Two shots crashed through the bulwarks, one of them dismounting a gun which, in its fall, crushed a man who had thrown himself down beside it.

Another shot struck the yard of the foresail, cutting it asunder; and the lugger at once ran up into the wind.
"Lower the foresail!" the captain shouted.

"Quick, men! and lash a spare spar to the yard.