f the
frigate, while a rent appeared in the sail. The Frenchmen shouted as if
they had done a clever thing, but they had little to shout for; the next
instant a shower of round-shot came whistling through our sails, some
just above our heads; two struck the lugger's side, and one killed three
men dead on the decks. Though I knew how dangerous was our position I
was too eager to see what was taking place to go below. Still the
gallant French captain would not strike, but stood as energetically as
before, encouraging his men to work the guns. I wished that he would
give in though, for my own and Toby's sake, nor did I think that he had
a chance of escaping. There he stood full of life and energy, now
hauling on a gun-tackle, now looking along a gun. The next moment there
was a whistling and crash of shot, and I saw several mangled forms sent
flying along the deck. One was that of the brave captain. I ran to
assist him, but though there was a convulsive movement of the limbs, he
was perfectly dead. At the same moment down came the lugger's mainyard.
I saw that it was completely up with her at all events. Some of the
privateer's men continued at the guns, but the greater number tumbled
headlong down below, to avoid the frigate's next broadside. My eye
glancing up at that moment, I saw the French flag still flying.
Believing that the only way to avoid the catastrophe was to haul it
down, followed by Toby, I ran aft to do so. I was too late. The
Frenchmen fired, and another crushing broadside struck the lugger, and
made her reel with the shock. The companion-hatch was knocked to
pieces. We should have been killed had we remained at our former post.

The next instant there was a fearful cry--the men who had gone below
sprang up again with pale faces and cries of terror. The lugger rushed
on, made one fearful plunge, and I saw that she was sinking. I had kept
my eye on the wreck of the companion-hatch. Dragging Toby with me, I
sprang to it and clutched it tightly, and as the sea washed along the
deck, and the sinking vessel disappeared, we found ourselves clinging to
it and floating on the summit of a curling wave. As soon as I had
cleared my eyes from the water, I looked round for the frigate. She was
in the act of heaving-to in order to lower her boats. The sea around us
was sprinkled with struggling forms, but not half the lugger's crew were
to be seen. Numbers must have gone down in her. Shrieks and cr