The bait took; the grabs drew up on the _Ockham's_ quarter, with their crews cheering and sounding trumpets.

At a cable's distance the _Ockham_ suddenly tacked; and as she gathered way on her new course, she was in the midst of the grabs, firing into them round shot and grape, together with volleys of small arms.

This unexpected manoeuvre made the Angrians draw off, and the _Ockham_ resumed her course.
At daybreak, only four grabs were in chase, the fifth having evidently suffered severe injuries.

A stiff breeze had sprung up, and the crew were eager for another bout, so the _Ockham_ tacked again, and stood for the grabs.

But they had had enough of it, and evaded coming to close quarters.
Their best chances of successes lay in calms and light airs.