make it smile as a fruitful garden, and the glorious triumph which is
reserved for those who struggle on bravely in the service of their
Heavenly Lord and Master. Still, we are describing men as they are, not
as they should be; and probably on board that frigate there was not a
single man who had the slightest doubt that the sentiments which
animated his bosom were otherwise than right and noble, and superior to
all others.

A shout burst from the mouths of the crew of the _Cynthia_ when the
French flag was seen to be run up to the peak of the stranger. She was
standing on with all plain sail set, and was manoeuvring in order to
gain the weather-gauge. The _Cynthia's_ studding-sails and more lofty
canvas having been taken in, she also tacked in order not to let her
antagonist gain this advantage. At length they approached sufficiently
near each other to allow the bow guns of the _Cynthia_ to take effect.

"Mr Hansom, let us see if we cannot knock away some of her spars,"
observed the captain.

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Mr Hansom, going forward and taking the match
in his hands.

There was a good deal of sea running at the time, so that the aim, even
of the best marksman, was likely to prove uncertain. He waited his
opportunity however. As the bows of the frigate rose he applied the
match, and some white splinters were seen to fly from the enemy's
topmast. A cheer burst from the throats of the crew who saw the success
of the experiment. It was looked upon as a good omen for the future.
The cheer, however, was repressed by the officers. The men stood at
their quarters. The captains of guns, with their matches in their
hands, most of them stripped to the waist, to allow them the better to
work the tackles, and also, should they be wounded, to escape the injury
which any piece of clothing was sure to cause, should it be carried into
their bodies by the shot. It was a scene which a painter might have
delighted to copy, exhibiting the sturdy forms of the seamen, their
countenances determined and bold, and utterly devoid of any appearance
of fear. Many, indeed, were passing rough and coarse jokes one from the
other, and the slightest excuse gave cause to a hearty laugh. It would
have been difficult for a stranger to believe, that the men who were
before him were entering into a struggle for life and death, or that the
combat between the two beautiful frigates now sailing in sight of each
other, would probably en