But at that moment we all started, for suddenly there came over the water a loud crash, as of two ships meeting, followed all at once by a crackling volley of musketry, which glanced bright through the darkness, gleaming in fiery streaks over the black oily-looking water, and then, mingling with the reports of the fire-arms, a great hearty cheer, such as Englishmen give when they leap upon the decks of an enemy. By the flashes we saw that one of the largest and heaviest laden of the pearl barks had been laid aboard by a very long low-built boat with three raking masts, like those of the vessels which the French call _chasse-marées_, and moved by a number of great sweeps, which extended from her sides like the long legs of some huge insect of the sea. ‘The Pirates! the Buccaneers!’ screamed all our crew together, and they rushed to haul down our lantern, so that we might the better escape in the darkness. In the meantime, there was a great crashing and scuffling, with heavy plunges in the water, as though men had leaped or been thrown overboard, and then, in the course of a moment, there was again silence, and the light of the captured vessel, for such no doubt she was, disappeared. But on board of the rest of the fleet there sprang up, as you may conceive, the strangest uproar. Instead of hauling down their lights, as we had done, in less than a minute the sea was all a-fire with the infinity of lanterns and torches which they waved and flashed from rigging and deck, while such a clamour of shouts, blowing of trumpets and conch shells, beating of drums, and firing of muskets and pistols, I never heard. It appeared, indeed, as if the pearl fishers imagined that they would drive away their enemy by making a noise and hallooing; all this, however, was done, Captain Garbo said, to alarm the convoy; but, truly, they must have kept sleepy watch aboard of her, if they did not hear the tumult of the first attack. But in the meantime the great ship was aroused—a flash of red flame gleamed from out her sides, showing for a moment boats full of men surging in the water beneath, and her sails falling in great white patches from her yards, as she prepared to give chace to the enemy. But these broad sails were useless; not a reef point rattled against the canvas in the great stillness of the night; but we heard the dash of oars and distant shouts as the boats of the frigate pulled away from her among the fleet. Meantime, the din on board the different barks subsided, but we could see the crews as they ran to-and-fro upon the decks, still carrying torches and lanterns, while every minute or two the frigate fired a great gun, for what purpose I know not, only that it seems as if Spaniards, like Frenchmen, seldom think they are doing anything if they be not making a noise. But where, meanwhile, was the Buccaneer rowboat, or galley? I strained my eyes through the darkness in the direction in which I had seen her. Could she be an Englishman,