d them
that the Frenchman's remaining mast had fallen, and now another and
another that the foe had struck. The "Pique" was totally dismasted; the
"Blanche" had but her foremast standing. Every boat was knocked to
pieces, and how to get on board the prize, still towed by the hawser,
was the question. "The hawser must form our bridge," cried Mr Milne,
the second lieutenant of the ship, springing on to it, followed by
Pearce, Rogers, and several men. Their weight brought the rope down
into the water. For some distance they had to swim till they could
climb up by it on board. What havoc and destruction a few short hours
had wrought. Of a crew not far short of three hundred men, one-third
lay dead or wounded, the deck covered with gore and the wrecks of the
masts and spars; guns lay dismounted, bulwarks knocked away, all telling
the tale of the bravery and hardihood of both the combatants. When the
sun arose there lay the victor and the conquered almost equally
helpless. Such was one of the scenes through which young Ripley fought
his way upwards, and gained a name and fame.

III.

The person who is constantly keeping his eye on the reward he aims at is
very likely to stumble and fall, and never to reach it. He, on the
contrary, who thinks only how he can best perform his duty will be
upheld and encouraged, and very probably obtain a higher reward than any
at which he might have aspired. Pearce Ripley found this to be true in
his case. Duty was his leading star. It never occurred to him to say,
"Will this please my captain?" "Will this advance me in the service?"
The "Blanche" was soon refitted and at sea again. Several prizes were
made, and, greatly to his satisfaction, he was appointed to the command
of one of them, with Bonham as his mate, and Dick Rogers as boatswain.
She was a richly-laden West Indiaman, recaptured from the enemy. He was
ordered to take her to England, where, on his arrival, he found his
commission waiting for him.

Pearce received a right hearty welcome from his father, and intense was
the satisfaction of the brave seaman when his son showed him his
commission and appointment as second lieutenant to the "Vestal," an
eighteen gun sloop of war, commanded by Captain Gale, and destined for
the North American station.

"You have got your first step up the ratlins, Pearce. Go on as you have
begun, and Heaven preserving your life, there is no reason why you
shouldn't reach the highest,"