alive, and these were promptly clapped in irons and bundled unceremoniously below. Strange to say, notwithstanding the desperate character of the fighting, the _Virginie's_ crew had suffered but slightly in comparison--nine killed and thirteen wounded being the total of the casualties. A short breathing-space was allowed the men to recover themselves after their extraordinary exertions, and then all hands set to work to clear the decks of the sickening evidences of the contest; the crew were next divided equally between the two ships, and, with Mr Bowen in command of the _Aurora_, both craft then made sail to windward in company. The third craft--the full-rigged ship--meanwhile was still in sight from aloft, dodging about under easy canvas, and evidently waiting for the _Aurora_ to rejoin. There could be little doubt, therefore, that she was in the possession of a prize-crew of the pirates, and George earnestly hoped he might be able to reach her in time to save the lives of some at least of those to whom she rightfully belonged. A couple of hours later they were alongside--the _Virginie_ on the weather and the _Aurora_ on the lee quarter--with ports open, guns run out, and the English ensign flying at the peak, the red flag having been allowed to remain aloft on board the _Aurora_ until ranging alongside the strange ship, when it was hauled down, and the English flag run up on board the barque and the brig simultaneously. The pirates in possession were completely paralysed by the turn events had taken; they had evidently been under the impression that the _Aurora_, and not the _Virginie_ had proved victorious; and now that they found themselves under the guns of both ships their mistake was past rectification. Accordingly, at George's order, they backed the main-yard and hove-to the ship, upon which a strong party, armed to the teeth, proceeded on board and took possession. The ship proved to be the _Vulcan_, of and from Liverpool, bound to Kingston with a valuable general cargo and several passengers. She was a noble ship, being of nearly a thousand tons register, and a regular clipper.