side
from the frigate told with fearful effect on the corvette. Her spars
and rigging were much cut about; three more men wore struck, and the
brave captain was seen to stagger back. Had not Rogers sprang forward
and caught him in his arms he would have fallen to the deck. He was
speechless, but he motioned to Bonham, who ran up to continue the fight.
When an attempt was made to carry him below, he signified that he would
remain on deck till the battle was won. The surgeon came up and
stanched the blood flowing from his shoulder. The nervous system had
received a violent shock, but he could not tell whether the mound would
prove mortal, the surgeon reported. Still the battle raged. The French
were again seen to quit their guns. The corvette followed up her
success. It was observed that buckets were being hauled up through the
ports, the frigate must be on fire; her foremast fell, the corvette
ranged up alongside, the French ensign was still flying. Bonham was
ordering another broadside to be poured in, when down came the enemy's
flag, and at that moment, Pearce recovering, joined in the cheer which
burst from the lips of the British crew.

"Go and help the poor fellows," were the first words the young captain
spoke. The corvette's boats which could swim were lowered and armed
with buckets, the English seamen hurried up the sides of their late
opponent. Her deck presented everywhere signs of their prowess, covered
with the bodies of the slain, and the wreck of the foremast and rigging;
the wheel had been shot away and three men killed at it. As a security
Bonham, who had gone on board and received the commanding officer's
sword, the captain having been killed, sent him and three others on
board the corvette, while he and his men set to work to extinguish the
flames. The magazine was happily drowned, which was of itself a
sufficient reason for the frigate to have struck, though the state of
her masts and spars, and the number of her killed and wounded showed the
skill and courage of her comparatively tiny opponent. The fire was at
length got under, very much by the efforts of the Englishmen, who had to
hint to the French that if they did not exert themselves they would be
left to perish, as it would be impossible to get them all on board the
corvette before the frigate would become untenable. The corvette and
her prize having been put somewhat to rights, made sail for Jamaica.
They had a long passage up, a