n him covered
with blood. He was a brave fellow--there was no doubt about that. We
had not gained our victory without a heavy loss, for we had eighteen
seamen and marines, three midshipmen and two other officers, killed, and
twenty-seven wounded; while the French lost sixty-three men. I do not
think there was ever during the war a more equal or better-fought
battle, except that the Frenchmen had eighty more men to begin with than
we had; but then the _Nymph_ had slightly heavier metal, and was a few
tons larger than our antagonist. However, I believe that if it had been
the other way, we should, notwithstanding, have won the day.

As soon as we had repaired damages we made sail, though it was four days
before we reached Portsmouth with our prize. The brave French captain
was buried the next day in Portsmouth churchyard, the surviving officers
being permitted to attend him to the grave. A few days afterwards His
Majesty, George the Third, came aboard our frigate, when our captain and
his brother, Commander Pellew, and all the officers of the ship, were
presented to him.

The king was highly pleased with the way the action had been fought, and
at once knighted our brave captain, and presented his brother with his
commission as post-captain, while Lieutenant Norris was made a
commander. The king made inquiries as to what others had done.

"They all did their duty, your Majesty," answered the captain.

"No doubt about it. That is what I know my officers and seamen always
do," observed the king.

The captain then told him of the way Harry had behaved.

"I am pleased to hear it, my lad," said the king; "and I hope some day
that I shall have the pleasure of placing the flat of my sword on your
shoulders. What's your name?" asked the king.

The captain told him, and mentioned how he had been saved from the
_Royal George_.

"What! are you the `Child of the Wreck' I have been told of?" asked the
king. "I wish that more like you had been saved; you have begun well,
and will prove an honour to the service, no doubt about that."

The king spoke in a like fashion to several others. As may be supposed,
I felt prouder than ever of Harry, and was sure that if his life was
preserved he would not disappoint the good king or anyone else.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

The grass did not grow in the streets of Portsmouth in those busy times;
I managed, however, to get leave to run over to Ryde for a couple of
days, and took Har