d succeed in overcoming
the enemy. The struggle continued. Again the enemy, led by a huge
Frenchman, who appeared to be one of their officers, drove back the
English some feet along the deck. He had singled out Mr Evans, the
first lieutenant, apparently with the intention of cutting him down,
being evidently himself a first-rate swordsman. Already the English
lieutenant's guard was thrown down, and the Frenchman had lifted his
cutlass and was about to bring it down on his head, when Denham sprang
forward and discharged his pistol at the Frenchman. The bullet struck
him on the right arm and the weapon fell to the deck. Mr Evans,
recovering his sword, gave him a thrust, which sent him backwards among
his men. The fall of their leader discouraged the French, who giving
way, the English found themselves in possession of the brig. The cable,
as had been agreed upon, was immediately cut. Hands were sent aloft to
loose the fore-topsail, and the head of the prize coming round, she was
steered out towards the mouth of the harbour. Denham now had time to
look around and ascertain what had become of Lord Fitz Barry, who was
nowhere to be seen. He made inquiries of the men to learn when they had
last seen him. No one knew. They had observed him on deck standing
close to his brother midshipman, but after that, no one could give an
account of him. Denham began to be greatly alarmed, fearing that the
young lord had been thrown overboard, or that he might in the melee have
fallen down below; but at that moment he was unable to make any further
inquiries; for, as the mouth of the harbour was approached, the forts on
either side opened their fire on the prize. Although the brig offered a
better mark than the boats would have done, still, as the night
continued very dark, and no noise was made on board, the gunners in the
forts could not ascertain in which direction to fire. The French
prisoners were as eager as the English to keep quiet, because the shots
which fell on board were as likely to injure them as to hurt their
captors. The same reason perhaps prevented them from attempting to
regain the vessel while the English were engaged in steering her out of
the harbour. At length she was got clear and stood for the frigate,
which now showed a bright light for her guidance; the firing having
given her notice that the exploit had been attempted, although Captain
Falkner, at that time, could not have told whether it had been