Threemenwerestillaloftwhenthebattery,whichhadhoistedSpanishcolors,openedfireuponus,thefirstshotseveringourlarboardmain-topgallantback-stay.Thisdamage,slightasitwas,sufficedtoeffectuallyrouseCaptainPigot'shasty,irritabletemper;and,hurryingthemendownfromaloft,heorderedthelarboardbroadsidetobemanned,andthegunstobedirectedupontheaudaciousbattery.Acoupleofwell-directedbroadsidessufficedtosilenceitsfire,andtheboatswerethenimmediatelypipedaway.
Butthatwasnotthelastofit--notbyhalf.Theroverhadasecret-aterrible,terriblesecret.