The American came up quite close, and hailing, demanded the name of the other.

For a reply, the brig lowered the Spanish colors, ran up the British flag, and let fly with a broadside and volley of musketry.
The _Wasp_ was expecting something of that nature and returned the compliment, the vessels working nearer each other and firing as rapidly as possible.

The action had hardly begun when the _Wasp_ lost her main topmast, and a few minutes later the mizzen topgallant mast and the gaff were shot away.

These mishaps so crippled her that she became almost unmanageable.

The _Frolic_, as the enemy was named, was also damaged, but not so badly as the _Wasp_, but, unfortunately for the _Frolic_, the heavy sea and the twisting about of the hull threw her into position to be raked by the _Wasp_, and Captain Jones was quick to seize the advantage, the vessels being so close that the ramrods were pushed against each other's sides while the gunners were loading.