have a friend in me if you have no other,"
said Jerry, again taking my hand. "You will grieve, my boy, I know, but
it can't be helped; so I must out with it. We have not lost many men,
but one has gone who was worth a dozen of the best; the Frenchman's
round shot coming aboard took off his head, and deprived you of your
father and us of our bo'sun."

"Do you mean to say that father's killed?" I asked in a trembling
voice, unable to believe the fact.

"Yes, boy, he has sounded his last pipe; we shall no more hear his voice
rousing up all hands, or hailing the maintop; but he died doing his
duty. We could have better spared a worse man, but there is no help for
it and so, Ben, don't pipe your eye."

Notwithstanding Jerry's exhortations, I did, however, cry heartily as I
lay in my hammock; and even the other boys respected my sorrow, though
it did not last long, I must confess.

The next day was an exciting one. As the morning broke, we saw our
prize on shore, and another French ship at anchor dismasted; she, on
seeing us, also ran on shore; when the _Essex_, a sixty-four, being sent
in to take possession of her, was also wrecked; while another ship, the
_Resolution_, seventy-four, was discovered on the rocks, the sea beating
over her; and, before assistance could be sent, most of her gallant crew
had perished. We succeeded, however, in burning the two French ships;
but others, which were almost falling into our hands, by heaving their
guns overboard, managed to escape up the river, where we could not
follow.

"Although we have gained the victory, I do not see that we have gained
much else for our trouble," observed Jerry, who was a philosopher in his
way. "We have, you see, destroyed four French ships, and sent well-nigh
two thousand Frenchmen, more or less, out of the world, but then we have
lost two of our own ships and some hundred British seamen; and, worse
than all, our brave bo'sun, your father."

The loss of my father was not to be repaired. I cannot say what might
have happened had he lived, but losing him I grew up from boy to man,
knocking about the world with many a chance of being knocked on the
head, and yet with not the slightest hope of ever treading the
quarter-deck as an officer--not that I ever thought about that. Jerry
proved my firm friend. Though fond of his grog, for my sake he kept
sober, that he might better look after me.

"Your father, Ben, lent me a helping hand when I had not