The fact was, that as he should have no further use for the schooner, and having for some time past, feared that Bradley seemed to be too tender-hearted to answer his purpose, he had determined to abandon him and the schooner together. At last, news was brought to Captain Flint that a vessel answering the one they were expecting was in sight. Flint who, with his crew of desperators, was lying at a place now known as Sandy Hook, immediately started in pursuit. Everything seemed to favor the pirates. The doomed ship was making her way under a light breeze apparently unconscious of danger. There was one thing about the ship, that struck the pirates as rather unusual. There seemed to be more hands on board than were required to man such a vessel. "I'm afraid there's more work for us than we've bargained for," said one of the men. "They seem to have a few passengers on board," remarked Flint, "but we can soon dispose of them." The principal part of Flint's men had stretched themselves on the bottom of the boat for fear of exciting the suspicion of those on board the ship by their numbers. As the pirate craft approached the merchant man, apparently with no hostile intention, those on board the ship were watching the boat as closely as they were themselves watched. As soon as they came within hailing distance, the man at the bow of the boat notified the captain of the ship that he wished to come along side, as he had something of importance to communicate. The captain of the ship commenced apparently making preparations to receive the visit, when one of the men on deck who had been observing the boat for some time came to him and said: "That's he. I'm sure I can't be mistaken. The man on the bow of the boat is the notorious pirate Flint." The pirates were approaching rapidly. In a moment more they would be along side, and nothing could prevent them from boarding the ship. In that moment the captain of the ship, by a skilful movement suddenly tacked his vessel about just as the pirates came up, coming in contact with the boat in such a manner as to split her in two in a moment. A dozen men sprung up from the bottom of the boat, uttering horrid curses while they endeavored to reach the ship or cling to portions of their shattered boat. The greater portion of them were drowned, as no efforts were made to rescue them. Three only succeeded in reaching the deck of the ship in safety, and these would probably have rather followed their comrades had they known how few were going to escape. These three were Captain Flint, the one called the Parson and Old Ropes. These were at first disposed to show fight, but it was of no use. Their arms had been lost in their struggle in the water. They were soon overpowered and put in irons.