Hundreds of loaded muskets were ranged along the rail, so that the firing was not interrupted to reload.  Time and again the British renewed their efforts to board, but were hurled back by the American defenders.  A few who succeeded in reaching the decks were cut down before they had time to profit by their brief advantage.  Once only did it seem that the ship was in danger.  Then the assailants, who outnumbered the Americans four to one, had reached the deck over the bows in such numbers that they were gradually driving the defenders aft.  Every moment more men came swarming over the side; and as the Americans ran from all parts of the ship to meet and overpower those who had already reached the deck, new ways were opened for others to clamber aboard.  The situation was critical; but was saved by Captain Ordronaux by a desperate expedient, and one which it is clear would have availed nothing had not his men known him for a man of fierce determination, ready to fulfil any desperate threat.  Seizing a lighted match from one of the gunners, he ran to the hatch immediately over the magazine, and called out to his men that if they retreated farther he would blow up the ship, its defenders, and its assailants.  The men rallied.  They swung a cannon in board so that it commanded the deck, and swept away the invaders with a storm of grape.  In a few minutes the remaining British were driven back to their boats.  The battle had lasted less than half an hour when the British called for quarter, the smoke cleared away, the cries of combat ceased, and both parties were able to count their losses.  The crew of the privateer had numbered thirty-seven, of whom seven were killed and twenty-four wounded.  The British had advanced to the attack with a force of one hundred and twenty-eight, in five boats.  Three of the boats drifted away empty, one was sunk, and one was captured.  Of the attacking force not one escaped; thirty were made prisoners, many of them sorely wounded, and the rest were either killed or swept away by the tide and drowned.  The privateers actually had more prisoners than they had men of their own.  Some of the prisoners were kept towing in a launch at the stern, and, by way of strategy, Captain Ordronaux set two boys to playing a fife and drum and stamping about in a sequestered part of his decks as though he had a heavy force aboard.  Only by sending the prisoners ashore under parole was the danger of an uprising among the captives averted.

[Illustration:  IF THEY RETREATED FARTHER HE WOULD BLOW UP THE SHIP]

In the end the “Prince de Neufchatel” was captured by a British squadron, but only after a sudden squall had carried away several of her spars and made her helpless.