the fcreams of the wounded, and the groans of the dying.

In this defperate fituation we loaded all our guns with grape-fhot, which made fuch havoc among our enemies as obliged two of them to fheer away again as faft as they could, while the third kept playing upon us at a diftance, till we forced her alfo to follow her conforts.

We now had leifure to clear our deck, and, with forrowful hearts, threw our dead companions overboard.

Having once more fet all to rights, we bore down on all three; but they cronded away from us, maintaining a running fight with their ftern-chace; and as they levelled their fhot almost wholly at our rigging, by evening we were incapable of further purfuit.

Mean while we had plied them with eur cannon fo well, that, as it began to wax dufkish, we perceived the crew of the hindmoft in much confufion, and making fignals of diftrefs to their conforts. Soon after we faw them heave out their boat, and they had scarce crouded into her when their fhip went down. Hereon we have a great fhout, which we repeated on feeing their boat overfet. But, as the Moors are excellent fwimmers, I fuppofe most of them got fafe, and were:

taken

taken in by their companions. In the mean fpace our moft gallant Captain Jenkins had his right leg and thigh carried off by a cannon-fhot; I think it was the laft fhot the enemy fired.

As I ftood by my captain's fide, I catched him in my arms before he fell to the board, and cried out for the furgeons; but the effufion of blood was fo great, and fo impoffible to be ftanched, that we quickly defpaired of any life for him.

As I fupported him on deck with my right arm, he found himself growing faint, and turned his face to me. David, faid he, I am not afraid to die, for I am a Chriftian. I believe, as furely as I am here, that Chrift came into the world to fave finners, of whom Fam chief; and he is fo great and fo gracious, that he will not fuffer hell or the grave to dif appoint him of an end for which he paid fo dear a price. Here, my David, here is my purse and my watch, which I bequeath to your love as my laft legacy; and here is my diamond ring with which 1 entrust you, as a token to my dear daughter, if ever it fhall be your fortune to revifit Old England. And if you fhould go to London, my dear David, inquire out my good old friend, Alder

man

man Bicker; tell him of my behaviour during your fervice with me, and that I befeech him to use his intereft with our Protector, in procuring my pay for my poor fweet child.

And that I will, right heartily, cried out Sir Thomas. I will alfo fpeak a word for yourself, my lad; the Protector cannot refufe his favour to one who has had the honour of ferving in the action of the Centurion, whofe fame our very enemies have fpread through Europe. But, pray, proceed in your narration; I long to hear the event of fo interefting a fcene.

Though we greatly grieved for our captain, we were ftill more concerned for the honour of England, left our good ship should fall into the hands of the barbarians. For fhe now lay like a hulk on the face of the water. She could nei-' ther pursue nor avoid an enemy; and, though the had been in plight, we had not hands left fufficient to work her.

Night came on apace, hoftilities ceased on both fides; the pirates hung out lights, to prevent, as we fuppofed, their parting from each other; and we mournfully called a muster of our men, in the dark; whereon we found that, of two hundred and seventy odd men, we had but fifty remaining,

remaining, twenty of whom were wounded, though not disabled.

Come, my lads, cried the old Lieute nant, it is as good to be merry as fad. We have worked enough to-day to give us an appetite. Let us have fomething to eat, and a bowl of punch; and, if we die by morning, let us not die with cold hearts, and empty ftomachs. Moreover, your encouragement, I take upon me to promife, that, if you will be guided, I will make you mafters of one of yonder veffels before fun-rife.

for

We engaged compliance to a title; and accordingly, after we had refreshed ourfelves plentifully, he ordered our boats to be heaved overboard, and let drive with the wind. We then fet our watch, and went down to take a few hours repole.

Two hours before day we were roufed by the Lieutenant, and the first thing we did was to bore a large hole in the fide of our fhip about a foot below water, for which we had an occafional plug prepared.

As foon as the day dawned, we fet watches to give us timely notice of the enemies approach; and then lay down on our small arms out of obfervation.

The pirates, as we prefumed, held up their glaffes; but, feeing neither men nor boats in our ship, they concluded, that

we

we had made an elopement by night, and came on without precaution or preparation.

As foon as they had arrived within about half a league, our watchmen, according to order, drew forth the plug, and, creeping upon deck, crouched down with us.

The conforts had agreed to board our ship on each fide, in confidence of a rich and unrefifting prize. But the moment that we heard the firft of them ruftling along-fide, and perceived that they were beginning to get up our fide, we jumped up, as one man, and fetting up a great fhout, and overturning all we met, leaped into their veffel.

Never was amazement like that of the enemy! They scarce made any refiftance, and, in less than a minute, not a Moor was left upon deck.

Mean time the other pirate had boarded our late veffel, almoft to a man. They had heard, indeed, the fhout, with the clamour and groans of their fellows, but did not rightly know what to make of it; till, moving ciofe round the head of our former fhip, we shot the few who were left in the second frigate; then, throwing out our grapplings, we towed her off,

and