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Updated: June 21, 2025
When the privateer's men had been driven below, and the hatches secured over them, fifteen, armed with cutlasses, concealed themselves in this place, with the the hopes of recapturing the vessel from the prize-master, after she should have parted company with the frigate.
The privateer's men were also refreshed, and eager to go in search of fresh spoil. With heavy hearts the late officers and passengers of the "Osterley" saw her under all sail, standing out of the bay. It appeared as if their home the only means of escaping from their bondage was leaving them. Many gave way to tears at the sight, and few looked on unmoved.
The captain continued to talk in this way while the howitzer was loaded and trained for the second shot; but he might as well have saved his ammunition, for this shrapnel, like the first, did no harm to the brig. It didn't frighten her company, either, for they set up a derisive yell, which came faintly to the ears of the privateer's crew.
At daylight on the morning of the third day out the thrilling cry from the crosstrees "sail ho!" created a commotion on the privateer's deck, and brought Marcy Gray up the ladder half dressed. "Where away?" shouted Captain Beardsley. "Broad on our weather beam and standing straight across our bows," was the encouraging response from aloft.
The French captain rubbed his hands with ecstasy, as well he might. Just at this moment the English captain came upon deck, followed by two of the privateer's men, one of whom had taken possession of his laced cap, and the other of his silk sash.
I think, myself, we might have got along with twice our number, taking a fair average of the privateer's men, and reducing the struggle to the arms of nature; but I should have hesitated a long time in making an open attack on even them. Still, I began to regard my chances of escaping, should we be sent into a French port by the privateer, as far less certain than they had appeared at first.
Then with a start he recollected: the privateer's boat would be pursuing; this was coming to meet him. Had he been swimming round and round like a drowning dog? No. Behind him he could hear shouts and orders on the privateer as the crew jumped into the boat. This must be some other craft. It was coming from the land, and a landsman was rowing it.
A few blows were given; but the resistance offered was slight, and in a very short time the crew were disarmed or driven below, and the vessel in the possession of the privateer. She proved to be a small bark on her way out to the Mediterranean. She carried only twenty hands and four small guns, and was laden with hardware. The privateer's crew at once set to work upon her.
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