The young men levelled their muskets and fired.
Soon after, the two ships were abreast of each other, and almost at the same instant both discharged a deadly broadside.

The conflict became general.

The crashing of the woodwork and the roaring of the guns was deafening.

A thick smoke enveloped the two vessels, so that nothing could be seen of the one from the other; still the firing and crashing went on.

The sails were torn to shreds, the deck was encumbered with fragments of timber; men were now and then falling, either killed or wounded, and a fatigue party was constantly engaged in removing the bodies.