the seamen, and myself; but our fate was soon decided by the captain, who cried out, “It’s useless contending against such a superior force.”  With this observation he ran aft and hauled down the colors.  As soon as the men perceived this they all left the guns; at another broadside from the privateer they all scampered down below, and at the same time the captain went down into his cabin.  There was none but the mate, the boatswain, Bramble, and myself left on deck.

“Pleasant,” said Bramble.  “I thought as much.  Well, Tom, here we are, in for it.  Come with me to the helm, for these French fellows will board, and they make very free with their cutlasses, even after colors are hauled down.  Well,” said he, as he walked aft, “I did not think to see the English flag so disgraced.  Poor Bessy, too!  Well, never mind.  I say, mate, just let go the weather main-braces and bow-lines, and square the yards, for it’s better to be as humble as possible, now that we can’t help ourselves; and do you and the boatswain go down below, for they cut right and left, these fellows.  They do pay a little more civility to pilots, as they aren’t belonging to the ship.”

This advice of Bramble’s, which was very good, was followed by the mate and boatswain.

“Shall I run down and look after our kits?” said I to Bramble.

“No, Tom, don’t have anything in your hand, or they will take it from you, and most likely give you a rap on the head with a cutlass at the same time; for privateer-men of all nations are little better than pirates, and don’t how to behave in victory.  Just keep where you are—­look as if you had nothing to do with the ship except the steering of her.  Here they come!”

As he spoke the lugger touched our weather side, at the same time lowering down her foresail and mainsail with no little noise and confusion; in a second or two there were thirty of their men on our decks, flourishing their cutlasses, and looking round with their pistols ready cocked in their left hands for somebody to let fly at.  At last they came aft.  “Pilot!” cried Bramble, taking off his hat.  I did the same.  With reiterated sacres and diables of every description some now rushed down into the cabin, while others went down the fore-hatchway, while more of the men from the lugger poured upon our decks; but none of them molested Bramble or me, as we continued standing at the wheel.  In about ten minutes order was to a certain degree restored by the captain of the privateer, who had come on board.  I perceived him express his surprise to his officers who were with him at the armament of the ship, and he appeared very much pleased:  it was not necessary to understand French for that.  He then came up to Bramble, and spoke to him in French; but Bramble only pointed to me and then to himself, and said “Pilot.”  The captain called for a young Frenchman who could speak English, and then asked Bramble what was the cargo.