o reveal the character of the strangers, and Jones
determined to run down cautiously toward the squadron, to reconnoitre.
The wind was blowing fiercely at the time, and a heavy sea was
running, from the effects of a gale of the day before, in which the
"Wasp" lost her jib-boom, together with two sailors who were upon it.
As the vessel bore down upon the strangers, Jones could see through
his marine glasses that they were a convoy of merchantmen, under the
protection of a British sloop-of-war. The merchantmen were evidently
armed, and some seemed to carry as many as twelve guns. Deeming it
unwise to attack at that moment, Capt. Jones kept on a course parallel
with that of the enemy, during the remainder of that day and through
the night. With the break of day, every officer of the "Wasp" was on
deck, and all eyes were turned towards the quarter in which the
Englishmen should be found. There, sure enough, they were. Six
merchant ships and a bluff little brig, the port-holes in the sides of
which showed her to be a war-vessel rating as a sloop. Signs of
activity on board made it evident that the Englishmen had caught sight
of the vessel which had been dogging them for the last day, and were
making ready to give her battle. The British, too, had suffered in the
gale, and the sailors could be seen shipping a new main-yard, and
setting new topsails. On the "Wasp," the jackies were hard at work,
getting in a spar to take the place of the jib-boom, which had been
lost in the storm. Both ships were under short canvas, for the wind
was still high. Instead of the English ensign, a Spanish flag
fluttered from the halliards of the Englishman,--an unnecessary ruse
to draw on an adversary already seeking a conflict.

[Illustration: Loading.]

It was half-past eleven in the morning when the action began. The day
was an ideal October morning at sea,--cool, clear, and a breeze
blowing fresh and constantly stiffening. The two vessels were running
on the starboard tack, not sixty yards apart. As they ploughed
through the waves, great clouds of spray dashed over the bows; and
every now and then a wave would sweep over the forecastle, drenching
the jackies as they stood at their quarters. As they sped along, the
two ships exchanged broadsides, the "Frolic" firing three to the
"Wasp's" two. After every broadside, the gunners cheered as they saw
the damage done by their fire. When the state of the sea is
considered, it seems marvellous that