The ship was well sailed, however, and gained a position for raking the _Pelican_ in deadly fashion, but the shot went wild and scarcely any harm was done.

The British captain chose his own range and methodically made a wreck of the _Argus_ in twenty minutes of smashing fire, working around her at will while not a gun returned his broadsides.

Then he sheered close and was prepared to finish it on the deck of the _Argus_ when she surrendered with twenty-three of her crew out of action.

The _Pelican_ was so little punished that only two men were killed.

The officer left in command of the _Argus_ laid this unhappy conclusion to "the superior size and metal of our opponent, and the fatigue which the crew underwent from a very rapid succession of prizes." There were those on board who blamed it to the casks of Oporto wine which had been taken out of the latest prize and which the sailors had secretly tapped.