tion left the frigate.
My father was in the launch commanded by a master's mate, Mr Harry
Oliver, a slight delicate youth who appeared utterly unfit for such
work, but he had the heart of a lion, and daring unsurpassed by any
officer in the service. For four long hours the chase continued, when,
at about six in the evening, she was still four leagues ahead. Mr
Schank now ordered the master to proceed in the gig as fast as he could
pull, and by all means to keep sight of the brig, while in the event of
darkness coming on he was to hoist a light to show her position. It had
been arranged that the attack was to be made in two lines. The barge,
pinnace, and gig were to board on the starboard quarter; and the other
line, consisting of the three other boats, on the larboard quarter. For
upwards of two hours longer the boats pulled on, the gloom of evening
gradually closing over them. Still they could distinguish the dim
outline of the brig ahead. The First-Lieutenant having got within
musket-shot of the chase with Mr Oliver's boat, he directed his men to
lie on to their oars that they might arm, and allow the sternmost boats
to come up. Just then the master in the gig rejoined them.

"What is she?" asked Mr Schank.

"A French man-of-war brig of sixteen guns," was the answer. "She is
under all sail with her sweeps out, and we shall find it pretty brisk
work getting on board." The crews had of course been ordered to keep
silence, or I rather think that they would have uttered a hearty shout
at this announcement. In a few minutes more the sternmost boats got up,
and their crews also armed and prepared for the attack. They were
directed to steer one on each side of the brig, and to get in under the
sweeps and close to her sides. In ten minutes they were within
pistol-shot of the enemy, who was slipping along through the water, her
sweeps being aided by the light wind off the land, at about two knots an
hour.

And now the silence which had hitherto been kept was broken by the voice
of their gallant leader shouting, "What vessel is that?"

There was no answer. Again he asked the same question in French. It
was very bad French, and perhaps was not better understood than the
previous question. At all events no reply was made.

"Then at her, lads!" cried Mr Schank; and the crews of the boats,
uttering three hearty cheers, dashed up towards the brig's stern. As
they got close up, however, a tremendous fire of heav