ack. "The French take a good deal of
drubbing, and don't always know when they are beaten."

Tom felt, at all events, that he had had enough of it, as he looked
along the deck and saw numbers of the men who had been slightly hurt
binding up each other's wounds. Several lay stiff and stark, whose
bodies were dragged on one side, while not a few, severely hurt, had
been carried below to the cockpit, where the surgeon and his mates had
ample employment.

Among the killed was the second lieutenant, a master's mate, and two
young midshipmen; altogether of the two hundred and fifty men who that
morning were in health and strength, forty were either killed outright
or were severely wounded.

Just then, however, the survivors were too much occupied to think about
the matter; every man and boy was wanted to get the ship to rights, and
all were eagerly looking out for a breeze that they might again attack
the enemy. Bill was as eager as any one for the fight. He felt that he
was somebody, as he could not help reflecting that he had done good
service in saving the life of the first lieutenant, though he did not
exactly expect any reward in consequence. It seemed to him that he had
grown suddenly from a powder monkey into a man. Still the calm
continued, and the two ships lay with their sails against the masts, the
water shining like a polished mirror.

The calm was to the advantage of the French, who had thus longer time to
repair their damages. The English were soon ready to renew the action.

What, however, might not happen in the meantime?

Both the captain and Mr Saltwell thought it possible that the French
squadron might be to the eastward, and should the firing have been
heard, and a breeze spring up from that direction, which it was very
likely to do, the Frenchmen in overwhelming force might be down upon
them.

The captain walked the deck, looking anxiously out in every direction
for signs of a breeze. Occasionally reports were brought to him of the
way the wounded men were getting on. The surgeons had as much work as
they could get through, cutting off arms and legs, setting broken limbs,
and binding up flesh wounds. Such are the horrors of war! How many
might be added ere long to the number of the killed and wounded!

It was nearly noon when the captain exclaimed, "Here comes a breeze!
Trim sails, my lads!" The men flew to the braces. The canvas blew out,
and the frigate began slowly to move towards