The _Cassandra_ was a new ship of 380 tons, on her first voyage. Macrae was a thoroughly good seaman, with a fine crew that were attached to him, and was resolved to fight his ship to the last. Early in the engagement he gave the _Victory_ some shots between wind and water, which made England keep off till he had stopped the leaks. Taylor got out the boats of the _Fancy_ and tried to tow her alongside, to carry the _Cassandra_ by boarding, but such good practice was made by the _Cassandra's_ marksmen that the design was given up. At the end of three hours the _Victory_ had repaired damages, and was closing again. Macrae had lost so many of his crew, that, giving up all hope of assistance from Kirby, he determined to run his ship ashore. The _Fancy_, which drew less water, followed with the intention of boarding, but got aground within pistol-shot, with her bows towards the _Cassandra's_ broadside, and the action recommenced hotter than ever. There the two ships lay, both fast aground, pelting each other furiously, till the crew of the _Fancy_, finding the _Cassandra's_ fire too hot for them, left their guns and ran below. Had Kirby come to his assistance at this moment, Macrae's triumph would have been assured; but this was the moment chosen by Kirby to bear up and shape his course for Bombay. England in the _Victory_, seeing that the _Greenwich_ might be disregarded, sent three boats full of men to reinforce the _Fancy_; by which time there had been so many killed and wounded on board the _Cassandra_, that the crew, losing heart, refused to fight the ship any longer. Thirteen had been killed and twenty-four wounded, among the latter Macrae himself, who had been struck by a musket ball on the head; so, some in the long boat and some by swimming reached the shore, leaving on board three wounded men who could not be moved, and who were butchered by the pirates. Not deeming it safe to linger on the coast, Macrae and his crew hastened inland, reaching the town of the local chief, twenty-five miles off, the following morning. Exhausted with fatigue and wounds, almost naked, they were in a pitiable condition. The natives received them hospitably, supplied their wants to the best of their ability, and refused to surrender them to the pirates, who offered a reward for them.