My eldest Brother being a young man grown up, he made him a proposal to stay with him as a Clerk, and said that he would satisfy him according to his behaviour: my Brother accepted his kind offer willingly. As for me and my other Brother, being too young for any kind of business, we were recommended to an old Lady who received us with much humanity; for she maintained us for six months or thereabouts. In the mean time I began to tire of being without employ, and acquainted my old benefactress of my disposition, which was to go upon the Sea and learn to be a Sea-man; she said, "if that is your resolution, I will recommend you to a Captain that I know;" accordingly she did, and I went on board of a Privateer as a cabin boy: and a Clerk's place was provided for my other Brother; so we began our course of Life in the like manner as it is described. My rank being a cabin boy as before mentioned, I was to clean the chamber,[9] wash the dishes, and sweep the deck twice a day. [9] Called in Sea terms a Cabin. We weighed the Anchor and went a Cruizing: we were a long while before we took any prize; at last, one morning we saw a Ship, and immediately we chased her, but all our endeavours were without success, for we could not attain her though we sailed all the day long; and when night was coming on the Ship we were chasing tacked about and sailed back towards us, and when near enough she fired a gun, and made signal to know what Nation we were; but we did not answer the signal, supposing she was an English Sloop of war: so we prepared for the conflict. The enemy seeing that we did not answer their signal, did not doubt any longer but we were enemies to them; so they came as near as they could, and fired a broad side: as we were ready for them, we returned in like manner; and the engagement took place with courage and obstinacy on both sides; and fought for a long space of time without knowing what Nation we were fighting with, though we guessed it was English, but we were not sure of it. At length of time an opportunity offered itself; we hailed her in English, but no answer, in French, no answer, in Spanish, and yet no answer was to be had; so we did not know what to think of their mysterious silence. We renewed the Battle again with great courage and Boldness, and attempted three times to jump on board of her; but she always avoided it: our people were so enraged, that they unanimously cried out, sooner die! than let her go. We fought like Lions on both sides, from seven o'Clock till midnight, at which time a misfortune happened on board our Ship; a box full of cartridges and gunpowder blew up, and set the Ship on fire, which put disorder among our men. The enemy, joyful to see that spectacle, (_though dreadful_,) begun to shout aloud, Huzza! Huzza! thinking that we should soon be theirs, but they were mistaken; our brave Captain, who was an American, soon put the fire out, by dipping mattresses and