We watched the gallant though unequal conflict.  Unflinchingly his ship received the tremendous broadsides of the enemy, and, undaunted, Sir William returned the fire, till at length the combatants were lost in a heavy pall of smoke.  Gradually the noise of the struggle ceased and the smoke cleared away.  Then, to our dismay, we saw the gallant vessel a helpless, dismasted wreck in the possession of the Dutch.