On board the pirate-brig every preparation was made for a conflict. In the meantime the hours advanced, and at length the two vessels were within short cannon range of each other. It still wanted more than an hour to sunset, and notwithstanding the dense clouds which still covered the sky (the rain which had fallen heavily for a while had soon ceased) the daylight was still clear enough to distinguish objects on board of one ship from the other, whenever the upheaving and subsidence of the waves allowed the deck of the lower to be seen from that of the higher. As the brig overhauled the chase, Captain Vance directed his helmsman to steer to the larboard of the chase, on a line as near as it was safe to approach her; by this course he would not only take the weather-guage of the ship, but would also make his position more convenient to "speak" her. "Mr Bowsprit," said the captain to the officer who had charge of the cannon, "fire a shot across her bows. That is the best way to open the conversation." The shot was immediately fired; and the reverberation was deafening, in the damp, heavy atmosphere. The vessels were now not more than a hundred yards apart; so near were they to each other, that the shadow of the brig--the outlines of which were defined clearly by the light which came from the western sky, where the clouds were somewhat broken--fell almost aboard the ship. The shot brought immediately a hail from the deck of the _Duchess_. "Brig ahoy!" came through a speaking trumpet in stentorian tones from Captain Johnson. "Ay, ay," was the answer. "Who are you, and what do you want?" was the retort from the deck of the ship. "The _Falcon_, free rover," replied Captain Vance, "and we want you to surrender." "We will never surrender to pirates," answered Captain Johnson. "If you surrender without resistance, we will spare the lives of all on board," said the captain of the _Falcon_. "I would rather sink the ship," replied the captain of the _Duchess_. "Woe be to you then," exclaimed Captain Vance. "Your blood and that of those under your control be upon your own head." All this conversation between the vessels had been carried on through speaking-trumpets. "Mr Seacome," said Captain Vance to his first lieutenant, "display the flag." The pirate flag of those days, having a black ground with white skull and cross-bones displayed upon it, was immediately run up to the main mast-head of the brig.