remain there. I, however, had gone up on deck, and was eagerly
looking about, expecting to see my father arrive. Mr Hassel was the
first to come up the side. He staggered aft to the Captain to make his
report. Meantime whips were rove, and, one after one, those who that
afternoon had left the frigate in high health and spirits were hoisted
up dead and mangled in every variety of way. Nearly thirty bodies were
thus brought on deck. Many others were hoisted up and carried
immediately below, where the surgeon attended them, and of the whole
number only seven were able to walk the deck steadily. I eagerly looked
out for my father. He was not among those unhurt. Among the dead I
dared not look. I hurried below, hoping to see him under the hands of
the surgeon, but neither was he there. My heart sank within me. I
hastened to the main-deck. There, with a lantern, I met my poor mother
frantically scanning the faces of the slain, who were laid out in a
ghastly row. Eagerly she passed along, bending over the pallid features
of those who a few hours before had been so full of life and courage,
jokes escaping their lips. Now as she looked at one, now at another, a
glance told her that the corpse was not that of her husband.

"Oh! Mother! Mother! Where is father?" I cried out at length, as I
caught sight of her.

"I know not, my boy, I know not," she answered. "Oh! Burton, Burton!
Where are you? Has no one seen my husband? Can anyone tell me of my
husband? Where is he? Where is he?" she frantically exclaimed, running
from one to the other, when she found that he was not among those
brought on board.

"The boatswain!" said some one. "Bless her poor heart, I don't like to
utter it, but I saw him knocked overboard as he was climbing up the
polacca's side. He would not have let go had it not been for a thrust
in his shoulder, and he was hit, I know, while he was still in the
boat."

"Who is that you speak of?" asked my mother, hearing the man's voice.

"Bless your heart, Mrs Burton, but I am sorry to say it," answered Bill
Houston, one of the few who had escaped unhurt. "I was close to him,
but he fell by me before I could stretch out a hand to help him, and I
doubt, even if we had got him on board, it would have been much the
better for him, he seemed so badly hurt. I did not hear him cry out or
utter a sound."

The lantern my mother had been holding dropped from her hand as she
heard these words.