At one in the morning, the moon having risen, they bore down again and attacked the _Ockham_ in their favourite manner, astern.

For some time the East Indiaman was exposed to the fire of ten nine-pounders, to which it could only reply with two stern-chasers.

Captain Jobson, finding his rigging much cut up, and seeing that the loss of a mast would probably entail the loss of his ship, determined to entice them to close quarters, in the good breeze that was springing up.

The plan was explained to the crew, who were in good heart, and encouraged by a promise of two months' pay.

Every gun was manned, while the fire of the two stern-chasers was allowed to slacken, as if ammunition was running short.