Complex sentence: MacBride ranged up and fell in with the unidentified ship, which hoisted English colours; both ships came within pistol shot, and it was not until there was some communication between the two ships, that MacBride could be satisfied of her identity.
Split into simpler sentences: MacBride ranged up and fell in with the unidentified ship, which hoisted English colours. Both ships came within pistol shot, and it was not until there was some communication between the two ships, that MacBride could be satisfied of her identity.