There was now much confusion on the deck of the pirate. It was nearly four o’clock, P. M., and trunks, stray articles from our packages, boxes of the ship’s stores, and some of our own, together with a few of the sailors’ chests, bags of sailcloth filled with clothing, and boxes of tea, were lying about in every direction. The pirates had become so completely engrossed in their work of plunder as to be oblivious of all else; and before they were aware, the _Jacob Bell_, with all her sails set, was fast drifting against the _Florida_. That was a terrible scene. She seemed a sentient being,--“a thing of life.” There was a little swell, but thanks to a kind Providence, no sea; and as she came down on the _Florida_ her prow seemed absolutely to stretch eagerly forward as if in haste to avenge her wrongs. The fires of the steamer had been banked, and as there was no steam to enable us to back off, for a time there was general confusion; until finally I heard Captain Maffit giving orders to put oil and tar on the fires. By this time the jib-boom of the _Jacob Bell_ had become entangled in the fore-rigging of the _Florida_, and broken the ratlines; when there was an attempt made to cut it away,--all on board of her being congregated at her bow for this purpose. The crew of the _Jacob Bell_, as well as those of the _Florida_, assisted by means of spars in keeping the former out of the way; but she finally came up with greater force, getting the jib-boom under the main-top-mast stay, but doing no serious damage. We very soon, however, got up sufficient steam to move a little out of the way. To say that this was a scene of imminent peril can impart but a faint idea of the overwhelming consternation and dismay which we suffered during these moments of intense anxiety and terror. I was already in a pitiable condition from the alarm and agitation which a consciousness of extreme exposure produces; and not having yet recovered from the shock received on finding myself in the power of lawless men, this new and crushing terror seemed to subdue and benumb every faculty.