All hope was gone. "Oh I give me back my husband I
give me back my husband!" she shrieked out. "Why did you come away
without him?"

"Oh! Mother! Mother! Don't take on so!" I exclaimed, running up to
her. She put her hands on my shoulders and gazed in my face.

"For you, Ben, I would wish to live, otherwise I would rather be down in
the cold sea along with him." Then again she cried out frantically for
my poor father. Her grief increased mine. Seeing the state she was in,
Bill King, who had remained near her, hurried down to fetch his wife,
who was attending on the wounded. She did her best to soothe my poor
mother's grief, and not without difficulty she was led away to my
father's cabin; and there, placed on his bed, she found some relief in
tears. I did my best to comfort her, but I could do little else than
weep too. Perhaps that was the best thing I could do; there is nothing
like sympathy.

"Oh! My boy! My boy!" she exclaimed, "you are still left to me; but
the day may come when you will be taken away, as your poor father has
been, and I shall be all alone--alone! Alone!"

Then she burst forth in an Irish wail such as I had never heard before.
It was curious; because, though an Irish woman, her accent, under
ordinary circumstances, was but slightly to be detected. Mrs King,
having done all she could, returned to her duties among the wounded, of
whom there were upwards of thirty, several of them mortally.

From Bill Houston, who had come to inquire for my mother, shortly
afterwards, I learned the particulars of what had occurred. The boats
approached the ship, all hands being fully persuaded that they had
little more to do than to climb up her sides and take possession. As,
however, they drew near her, and were just about to dash alongside, a
tremendous fire of grape, musketry, and round-shot was opened on them
from her ports, which were suddenly unmasked. In spite of this,
although numbers were hit, Mr Mason ordered them to board the ship.
Scarcely had he uttered the words than a shot laid him low, poor Mr
Bramston being wounded at the same time. Still the attempt to board was
made, but as they climbed up the sides they found that boarding nettings
were triced up the whole length of the ship, while pikes were thrust
down on them, and a hot fire of musketry opened in their faces. Again
and again they attempted to get on board, and not till nearly all were
killed or wounded did they desist