"Don't be too sure of that till the guns of the enemy are silenced," he
replied.

Scarcely had he spoken, when I heard a deep groan; and oh, how my heart
turned sick within me, as I saw a poor fellow writhing in agony on the
deck. A round-shot had torn away his chest and ribs. He gave a few
convulsive struggles, and all was over. It was the first time I had
ever seen death in any form, or even blood spilt, and for the moment I
felt so faint that I thought I should have fallen; but Hanks roused me
by calling for a loaded musket, and in a few moments those dreadful
sensations went off, never again to return. Two of his messmates drew
the dead body out of the way, and then returned to their gun without
apparently taking further notice of the matter. Our Commander was all
life and ardour, urging on the men to activity, while he kept a watchful
eye on our opponent, to take advantage of any accident which might
happen to her, or to follow any change in her course. It is difficult
to describe the scene our decks presented. Though our guns were light,
the men, from habit, had stripped themselves to the waist, and each one
had bound a silk handkerchief round his loins and another round his
head; their figures, even at a little distance, being obscured by the
thick fog and smoke from their guns and the small-arms. All the guns
were over on the starboard side, and those not required to work them or
tend to the sails were either loading or taking aim over the bulwarks at
our phantom foe. I did not dare to look at the dead body which lay near
me, and was praying that no one else might be hit, when I heard a sharp
tap, and old Thole, who was standing with his musket at his shoulder by
my side, fell to the deck. I stooped down, shuddering, for I expected
to see such another ghastly spectacle as the other poor wretch had
presented; but he looked as calm as possible, as if nothing was the
matter with him, and I began to wonder why he had fallen. He had not
even uttered a cry or groan.

"What is the matter, Thole; are you hit?" I asked.

Hanks heard me speak, and seeing Thole on the deck, he knelt down by his
side and took his hand.

"There's no use, my lad, in talking to the poor fellow, for he'll never
speak another word," he said, in a calm tone, as if nothing strange or
awful had occurred; and rising quickly, he seized a musket and
recommenced firing away at the lugger with renewed earnestness.

"Come, my lads, fir