en on
board in those days.

The frigate made all sail in pursuit of the stranger, a large schooner
under French colours. The chase stood into a bay defended by a fort,
where she was seen to anchor with springs to her cables. Along the
shore a body of troops were also observed to be posted. The drum beat
to quarters as the "Blanche" worked up towards the fort, when, the water
shoaling, she anchored and opened her fire in return for that which the
fort, the schooner, and the soldiers were pouring in on her. Captain
Faulkner's first object was to silence the fort. This was soon done.
The schooner, which it was clear was heavily armed, must be brought out.
The boats were called away, under command of the second lieutenant.
Pearce leaped into the one to which he belonged. A master's mate,
Fitzgibbon, had charge of her, and Dick Rogers formed one of her crew.
Harry Verner was in another. Away the boats dashed, at a rate boats
always do move pulled by British seamen when a prize is to be taken.
The Frenchmen worked their guns bravely. A shot disabled the leading
boat. Pearce, sitting by Fitzgibbon's side, heard a deep groan, and
before he could even look up the master's mate fell forward, shot
through the head. His boat took the lead. "Now's your time," cried
Dick Rogers; "we'll be the first aboard, lads." The crew were not slack
to follow the suggestion. In another moment they were up to the
schooner, and, leaping on her deck, led by Pearce, laid on them so
fiercely with their cutlasses that the Frenchmen, deserting their guns,
sprang over the bulwarks into their boats on the other side nearest the
shore, and, before another boat reached the vessel, pulled away towards
where the troops were marching down to their support. The cables were
quickly cut, and amid a shower of ballets sail was made, and the prize
carried out. "I said as how he'd do it--I said he wouldn't be wanting,"
exclaimed Dick Rogers, as he gave his account of the cutting out
expedition to his chums on board. "He'll do more too come another
occasion." That occasion did occur before many days were over. Two
days afterwards the "Blanche" was joined by the "Quebec" frigate, and
together, when sailing by Guadeloupe, they discovered the French
thirty-six-gun frigate "Pique" lying at anchor in the harbour of
Pointe-a-Pitre, ready for sea. Not to deprive his brother captain of
the honour he might obtain by engaging an antagonist so worthy of him,