at Spaniards are very good sailors, but then they
have not got the muscle and the activity of Englishmen. As a rule,
Spanish vessels are far better found than English craft, and are rather
over than under manned. We continued to run down the coast without
meeting with any adventure till we sighted the large island of Mindanao.
We were standing off that island one night, when about midnight the
ship was struck by a heavy squall. She lay over till her yardarms
almost dipped in the ocean. Topsail and topgallant sheets were let fly,
and she soon again righted without much apparent damage to herself, but
at that instant there was a cry from aft that one of the gunboats had
parted.

The night was dark, and those who looked out could nowhere distinguish
her. The frigate was, however, immediately brought to. A gun was
fired, but there was no report in return. A blue light was next ordered
to be lit. No answering signal was to be perceived. The missing boat
was the "Zel" under charge of young Harry Oliver. He was a great
favourite on board, and many anxious eyes were looking out for him.
Another and another gun was fired, and blue lights ever and anon sent
their bright glare over the foam-topped waves. While one of these blue
lights was burning, one of the men on the look-out whispered to another:
"What do you see there, Bill? As I am a living man there is a long low
ship under all sail gliding by right in the wind's eye."

"And I see her too! And I, and I!" exclaimed several men in suppressed
voices. "Hark? There are sounds. There is music."

"Why, they are singing on board. What can she be? I for one would
rather never have looked on her. Can you make out the words?"

"No, I should think not."

"Do you see her now?"

"No, she seemed to shoot right up into that thick cloud to windward."

Such and similar expressions were heard, and the men were still talking
about the matter when my father and Pat Brady, who had been below, came
on deck. At that moment Mr Schank's voice was heard shouting out
"Shorten sail!" and the ship was brought speedily under still closer
canvas, barely in time, however, to enable her to bear the effects of
the second violent squall which came roaring up from the quarter where
the supposed stranger had disappeared. Guns were again fired, and more
blue lights burned, and thus we continued waiting anxiously till morning
broke. The other gunboat was safe, but it was too certain th