be surprised if we got the whole lot of them."

The boys, having returned their powder to the magazine till it was again
wanted, were glad enough to stretch their legs, and still more to follow
Green's advice by swallowing the food which was served out to them.

The rest of the enemy's squadron were still in sight, scattered here and
there, and considerably ahead of the _Menager_; the frigate was,
however, gaining on the latter, and if the wind held, would certainly be
up with her some time in the afternoon.

Every stitch of canvas she could carry was set on board the _Foxhound_.

It was already five o'clock. The crew had returned to their quarters,
and the powder-monkeys were seated on their tubs. Both the pursuer and
pursued were on the larboard tack, going free.

"We have her now within range of our guns," cried Captain Waring. "Luff
up, master, and we'll give her a broadside."

Just as he uttered the words a squall struck the frigate. Over she
heeled, the water rushing in through her lower deck ports, which were
unusually low, and washing over the deck.

The crews of the lee guns, as they stood up to their knees in water,
fully believed that she was going over. In vain they endeavoured to run
in their guns. More and more she heeled over, till the water was nearly
up to their waists. None flinched, however. The guns must be got in,
and the ports shut, or the ship would be lost.

"What's going to happen?" cried Tom Fletcher. "We are going down! we
are going down!"

CHAPTER THREE.

BILL DOES GOOD SERVICE.

The _Foxhound_ appeared indeed to be in a perilous position. The water
washed higher and higher over the deck. "We are going down! we are
going down!" again cried Tom, wringing his hands.

"Not if we can help it," said Jack. "We must get the ports closed, and
stop the water from coming in."

"It's no use crying out till we are hurt. We can die but once," said
Bill. "Cheer up, Tom; if we do go to the bottom, it's where many have
gone before;" though Bill did not really think that the ship was
sinking. Perhaps, had he done so, he would not have been so cool as he
now appeared.

"That's a very poor consolation," answered Tom to his last remark. "Oh,
dear! oh, dear! I wish that I had stayed on shore."

Though there was some confusion among the landsmen, a few of whom began
to look very white, if they did not actually wring their hands and cry
out, the crews of the guns remained at