was given to man
the guns, and we began returning the enemy's fire with good effect, as
far as we could judge. The Frenchmen's shot came flying through our
sails, considerably cutting up our rigging, and two thirty-six pound
shot struck our hull; but we repaired damages as fast as we could, and,
nothing daunted, stood on. Wonderful to relate, all the time not a man
had been hit; and if we felt happy when we first got the frigate under
way, we had reason to be doubly so when we found ourselves clear of the
harbour and not a ship following us. We should have had no objection to
it had a frigate of our own size come out, as to a certainty we should
have given her a sound drubbing, and finished by carrying her off as a
prize.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

I should spin far too long a yarn were I to describe the various actions
in which we were engaged, or even mention the different ships to which
we belonged. Both Harry and Reginald Leslie had now passed for
lieutenants--indeed they had been for some time doing duty as such. Of
course they could have done very well without me, but hitherto, thanks
to Captain Leslie, we had always been appointed to the same ship.

The last time we were at home, Harry had become a greater favourite than
ever with the captain's family. Of course the brave way in which he had
saved Reginald at Toulon, at the risk of his own life, was well known.
Though he himself might not have talked much about it, Reginald had
given a full account of all that had happened. With Susan and me, Harry
was just the same as he had always been. One thing we discovered, that
he had given his heart to Miss Fanny, and it was Susan's belief that she
had given hers in return. We saw no harm in this, though we thought it
better not to talk to him about it; but I had a notion that the captain
did not suspect the true state of the case. Both Harry and I were
anxious to hear from Jerry, but day after day passed by, and no letter
came from him; I was expecting to be sent off to sea, and so were the
young gentlemen. Harry, I suspect, was in no hurry to go; and Reginald,
who generally took things easy, was happy with his family, and was
thankful to stop on shore for a spell. Still the accounts which we read
in the papers, of the gallant actions fought, made us before long wish
to be afloat again. We were reading, I remember, an account of Sir
Sidney Smith's brave defence of Acre against Buonaparte, whom he
compelled to