There was a terrific crash; the gun recoiled violently to the other side of the deck; and the pirate boat sank, leaving the sea covered with dead and wounded men.

A number, however, who seemed to bear charmed lives, seized their cutlasses with their teeth, and swam boldly for the ship.

This incident, unfortunately, attracted too much of the attention of the crew, and ere they could prevent it another boat reached the bow of the ship, the crew of which sprang up the side like cats, formed on the forecastle, and poured a volley upon the men.
"Follow me, lads!" shouted the captain, as he sprang forward like a tiger.

The first man he reached fell by a ball from his pistol; in another moment the opposing parties met in a hand-to-hand conflict.
Meanwhile Fred, having been deeply impressed with the effect of the shot from the little carronade, succeeded in raising and reloading it.

He had scarcely accomplished this when one of the boats reached the larboard quarter, and two of the men sprang up the side.