CHAPTER XI.

ETHELSTON'S FURTHER ADVENTURES AT SEA, AND HOW HE BECAME CAPTOR AND CAPTIVE IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME.

It seemed almost miraculous that not a man on the "Pride of the Ohio" was killed by the frigate's broadside, nor was one wounded, excepting Ethelston, who received a slight hurt in the left arm from a splinter; but he paid no attention to it, and calmly gave all the requisite orders for repairing the damaged spars and rigging.

As soon as all was made snug, he let the men go below to dinner, and leaning over the shivered bulwarks of his little craft, seemed busily employed in counting the shot that had struck her; but his eyes were for a time fixed upon the water, through which she was cutting her easy way, and his thoughts were afar off, as he whispered almost audibly to himself, "Dear, dear Lucy-your namesake is wounded and disfigured, but she is not dis

graced. Thank Heaven, no Frenchman's foot has yet trodden her deck, and-"

Here he was interrupted by Gregson, who having been carefully observing the frigate through his glass, came up to him, and said, "Bėg pardon, sir, but she is getting ready her boats, and the breeze is failing fast; in another hour we shall have scarce a cat's paw."

Ethelston started from his short reverie, and immediately convinced himself that the mate spoke the truth; "You are right,” said he, "but we have a good hour to spare, for the frigate is nearly becalmed. Let the men have their dinner quietly, say nothing to them about the matter, and give 'em an extra glass of grog; but no drunkenness, Gregson; they may want the full use of their heads and hands to-night; send Cupid to my cabin, and tell him to bring me a slice of cold meat and a glass of Madeira.”

So saying, he went below; the mate looked after him, and turning his quid three or four times in his cheek, he muttered, "Damme if he makes any more count of the frigate's guns or boats than a bear does of a bee-hive! They spoilt as good commodore as ever stept a deck when they made a trading-skipper of him!" Having vented this characteristic encomium on his young commander,

the old seaman went forward to execute his orders.

Meanwhile Ethelston, consulting his chart, found that the reefs and shoals as laid down, rendered the navigation of the coast extremely dangerous even for the light draught of his brig; having only allowed himself a few minutes for refreshment, he again went on deck, and observing the frigate still becalmed, he ordered the mate to shorten sail, take soundings, and to desire the carpenter to make a report of the leakage, or any other serious injury sustained by the frigate's shot.

During this time L'Estrange was not idle on board the "Epervier." Nettled at the successful trick played upon him, he resolved as the breeze gradually died away to capture the chase with his boats; for this duty the launch and the pinnace were assigned: the former had a carronade and twenty-five hands, and was commanded by his son; the latter had a swivel, and thirteen hands, commanded by a junior lieutenant. The object of L'Estrange being to prevent an unnecessary effusion of blood, by sending a force strong enough to render resistance hopeless on the part of, what he called, a dirty little sugar-boat. The crew of The Pride of Ohio, elated by the success of their

Captain's manœuvre, and exhilarated by the extra grog served out, were in high good humour, and laughing over the events of the morning with reckless merriment, when they received an order from Ethelston to come aft. On their obeying the summons, he again addressed them as follows:

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My lads, you have thus far done your duty like men; but our work is not yet over. The Epervier is determined to sink or capture our little craft; she is now getting out her boats for that service: if we resist, we shall have warm work of it; if we strike without a fight, we may rot in a French dungeon. Again I ask you, my lads, will you stick by The Pride, and hurrah for home, or a sailor's grave!"

A hearty and simultaneous cheer from the crew was the only reply.

"I knew it, my lads," continued Ethelston, his countenance, usually so calm, now glowing with enthusiasm, "I knew that you would not desert her while she could float! It is now my duty to tell you that she has received two awkward shots just between wind and water line, and that she leaks apace. We must stop them as well as we may; but be prepared for the boats from the Epervier ;—they shall at least buy us a dear bargain!”

VOL. I.

K

Ethelston now called the mate, and gave him full instructions for the plan of defence from the expected attack. The long gun and the carronades were got ready and loaded, the former with round shot, the latter with grape; small arms and cutlasses were served out to the men, and the deck cleared of everything that might impede them in the approaching struggle. Meantime Ethelston ordered to be hoisted a new ensign, given to the brig by Lucy, and said to be partly worked by her own fair fingers. As soon as it was run up, he sent aloft a boy, with orders to nail it to the mast-head, which was done amid the repeated cheers of the crew. They were not long kept in suspense; the breeze had died away: the flapping sails and creaking yards gave the usual sullen indications of a calm, when the boats from the Epervier advanced at a steady and measured stroke towards the brig. Ethelston gave the long gun to the charge of Gregson, reserving to himself that of the carronades; he issued also special orders not to fire, under any circumstances, until he gave the word, or in case he fell, until they received the order from Gregson, who would succeed him in the command.

During all these preparations, Cupid appeared indifferent to what was passing, and continued