of passing a rope round the mast, a bullet,
from the musket of a marine stationed in the Frenchman's top, struck him
on the breast. He fell back, and Denham had just time to catch him in
his arms to save him from falling heavily upon deck. Davis had at that
moment seized the rope which the captain had let go.

"Secure the bowsprit," cried the captain; "do not let the enemy sheer
off. Now place me on the deck; I fear that I am mortally wounded, but
do not let the people know it. In a few minutes the Frenchman's frigate
will be ours. See, they are attempting to board, but drive them back
and they will not long keep their flag flying. On! on! do not heed me."

Denham, calling to some of the crew, ordered them to take the captain
below, while he flew to obey his dying orders.

"Boarders, repel boarders," he shouted, drawing his own sword, and
springing towards the point where the Frenchmen were seen clustering in
their rigging about to spring on the deck of the _Cynthia_. The latter,
already disheartened by the loss of so many of their shipmates, were
quickly driven back, while the _Cynthia's_ guns continued pouring
broadside after broadside into the hull of their ship.

"See, see, down goes the French flag," cried the English crew, and
little knowing the loss they had sustained, they once more gave forth
that hearty British cheer which has so often sounded in the moment of
victory. The dying captain heard it as Denham reached his side.

"Tell her my last thoughts were about her," he murmured as the
lieutenant took his hand, and sinking back, his eyes were in another
moment closed by the hand of death.

The two ships had parted in consequence of the heavy sea which had now
got up. For the same reason the task of transferring the crew of the
prize to the victor was one of considerable difficulty. The first
lieutenant, now in command of the _Cynthia_, hailed the enemy to send a
boat on board; but his reply was that he had none which would swim, all
having been injured in the engagement. Fortunately most of the
_Cynthia's_ boats were in a better condition, and Denham, taking the
command, at once proceeded on board the prize. He found, though the
frigate was French, that a Dutch officer commanded her, who seemed much
down-hearted at the loss of his ship.

The young lieutenant had already been in several engagements, but never
had he seen a deck present a more sad spectacle than that of the
Frenchman. In all