The mutineers stood aghast for a few seconds; but the second mate, jumping on a gun, called out,

“Who’s of our side?  Are we going to be bullied by these d——­d Britishers?”

“You are,” said I, “if doing an act of justice is bullying.  You are in great danger, and I warn you of it.  I perceive the force of those whom you pretend to call Americans; and though I am the last man in the world to sanction an act of treachery by heaving the ship to, yet I caution you to beware how you provoke the bull-dog, who has only broke his master’s chain ‘for a lark,’ and is ready to return to him.  I am your guest, and therefore your faithful friend; use your utmost endeavours to escape from your enemy.  I know what she is, for I know her well; and, if I am not much mistaken, you have scarcely more time, with all your exertions, than to pack up your things; for be assured, you will not pass twelve hours more under your own flag.”

This address had a tranquillising effect.  The captain, Captain Green, and Solomon, walked aft; and, to their great dismay, saw distinctly the water line of the pursuing frigate.

“What can be done?” said the captain; “she has gained on us in this manner, while the people were all aft settling that infernal dispute.  Throw two more of the after guns overboard.”

This order was obeyed with the same celerity as the former, but not with the same success.  The captain now began to perceive, what was pretty obvious to me before, namely, that by dropping the boat from the extreme end of the vessel, where it hung like the pea on the steelyard, he did good; the lightening her also of the two aftermost guns, hanging over the dead wood of the vessel, were in like manner serviceable.  But here he should have stopped; the effect of throwing the next two guns overboard was pernicious.  The vessel fell by the head; her stern was out of the water; she steered wild, yawed, and decreased in her rate of sailing in a surprising manner.

“Cut away the bower anchors,” said the captain.

The stoppers were cut, and the anchors dropped; the brig immediately recovered herself from her oppression, as it were, and resumed her former velocity; but the enemy had by this time made fearful approaches.  The only hope of the captain and his crew was in the darkness; and as this darkness came on, my spirits decreased, for I greatly feared that we should have escaped.  The sun had sunk some time below the horizon; the cloud of sail coming up astern of us began to be indistinct, and at last disappeared altogether in a black squall:  we saw no more of her for nearly two hours.

I walked the deck with Green and the captain.  The latter seemed in great perturbation; he had hoped to make his fortune, and retire from the toils and cares of a sea-life in some snug corner of the Western settlements, where he might cultivate a little farm, and lead the life of an honest man; “for this life,” said he, “I am free to confess, is, after all, little better than highway robbery.”