The next shot pitched over the lee quarter, and knocked one of our hencoops to pieces, unexpectedly liberating the feathered prisoners. Toby's lingo--for he was now in an ecstasy of fear--became very amusing. "Now, men, rouse aft the foresheet, and do some of you catch that duck. Clap on the topsail haulyards--mind the capon--topgallant and royal haulyards also--bless me, the turkey is overboard--why, that royal is all aback--chickens--topgallantsail is not set at all--both geese--now a small pull of the boom sheet. You blood of a black--female dog"--to Chip, the negro carpenter--"peak purchase; belay all that--murder! if both the guinea birds are not over into the sea." "Ha!" said I, "I thought so--there goes the blue ensign and pennant. He is a man-of-war, thank Heaven!" "Heave to, captain," cried Lennox. But just as we had shortened sail preparatory thereto, the schooner ranged alongside, and, without a word spoken, fired a broadside of round and grape slap into us, whereby Lennox himself and other two poor devils were wounded, and our rigging considerably cut up. "That's the Spider, for a thousand," said I; "but what the deuce can he mean by firing at us?" "I can't tell, but I don't think it is the Spider, sir," said Lennox; "so haul in the sheets, and keep by the wind again, captain--quick man, quick." And away we staggered once more, running in for San Andreas on a bow line as fast as we could split; but the large schooner stuck close at our heels, firing away like fury, while the little Waterwraith promptly availed himself of this interlude, by tacking, and standing off the land again. "Why, Toby, you and your owner are both mad--what better of it will you make by running back?" Lennox had gone below to have his arm bound up by this time. "You would not have us tack, and get another broadside, sir? Besides, look at the weather, sir? even putting the schooner out of the question," said Tooraloo. "Ah, as to the weather, _there_ indeed you have some reason." Toby saw his advantage. "Surely you would not have us keep the sea in such a threatening morning, even without such company, sir?" The prudence of this was becoming every moment more evident, as the dark waves were now breaking all round us, and the water was roughening and whitening to windward; it was clear we should have a sneezer before long.