with Buckets; but finding themſelves not able to keep her free, and ſeeing the utmoſt Danger before their Eyes, they turn’d to the Takle, and hoiſted out their Proviſions, and other heavy Goods, and threw them over-board, with ſix of their Guns, ſo that by lightening the Veſſel, ſhe might riſe to the Top of the Sea with the Waves: They were alſo going to cut away their Maſt; but conſidering how dangerous it would be, to be left in ſuch a Condition, they reſolved to delay it to the laſt, which was Prudence in them to do; for a Ship without Maſts or Sails, lies like a Log upon the Water, and if attack’d, muſt fight with Diſadvantage, the working of her being the moſt artful Part of the Engagement, becauſe ſhe may ſometimes bring all her great Guns on one Side, to bear upon her Enemy, when the diſabled Ship can do little or nothing.
But to proceed; by their throwing over-board the heavy Goods, the Veſſel made conſiderable leſs Water, and they could keep it under with the Pump only, which gave them Hopes and new Life; ſo that inſtead of cutting all away, they took neceſſary Meaſures to ſecure the Maſt, by making Preventor-Shrowds, &c. and then wore and lay too upon the other Tack, till the Storm was over. The Scooner made ſomewhat better Weather of it, of the two, but was pretty roughly handled notwithſtanding, having ſplit her Main-ſail, ſprung her Boltſprit, and cut her Anchors from her Bows. The Brigantine by running away to Leeward, when ſhe wore upon the Larboard Tack, had loſt Sight of the Scooner; but not knowing whether ſhe might be ſafe or not, as ſoon as the Wind abated, ſhe ſet her Main-Sail and Top-Sail, and made ſhort Trips to Windward; and the next Day had the good Fortune to come in Sight of their Conſort, who, upon a Signal, which the other knew, bore down to her, and the Crew were over-
