ark, I am not certain. It was a trial to our nerves, for the shot
whistled near our shoulders, and, though we could not help feeling proud
of our shipmates' gunnery practice, we would rather that they had not
aimed so well.

"I say, Toby, if, like the boatswain's acquaintance, you get my head on
your shoulders, be honest; don't go and pass yourself off for me," I
observed.

"Lor, Muster Merry, I wouldn't so for to go to forget myself," he
answered.

His tone, more than the words, made me burst into a fit of laughter.

"You garcon not laugh long," observed the captain, as he hurried aft to
take a look at the compass. "You merry now, you cry soon."

"I'll laugh while I can; it's my nature to be merry, captain," I
answered, determined to appear as brave as possible. "But I say,
captain, what does that big ship want you to do?"

"Ah you von little rogue," he answered, less angrily than I might have
expected; "you go below, or you get head knock off."

"Thank you," said I. "But I may have to go lower than I like if I do,
so I would rather stay on deck, and see what is going forward."

The captain merely answered "Bah," as if he had too much to think of
just then to trouble himself about us, and issued some orders to his
crew. Two long guns were immediately cast loose and pointed at the
frigate. "They can't hope to contend with her," I observed to Bluff.
But they did though, and began blazing away in right good earnest. They
fired high, for their object was to wing her. If they could have
knocked some of her spars away they would have had a better chance of
escaping.

The lugger was evidently a very fast craft, and held her own
wonderfully. This was soon perceived on board the frigate, which began
to fire more rapidly than before. Captain Collyer had not spared powder
and shot, and, since we left port, the men had been every day exercised
at the guns. The result was now apparent by the number of shot which
passed through the sails of the lugger, or struck her. Still the
Frenchmen seemed in no way inclined to yield. The captain stood aft,
issuing his orders with the greatest coolness. His officers were much
less collected, and kept running about with ropes in their hands,
frequently striking the men if they flinched from their guns. The
lugger, which was really a very powerful vessel, of some two hundred and
fifty tons, tore through the seas, which came in cataracts over her
bows, deluging her fore an