did not get
taken ourselves. That last contingency did not occur to us. Though it
was hot, and we were rather crowded in the cabin, we had a very pleasant
time on board. We naturally messed together, and had secured all the
good things from the shore, in the shape of fruits and vegetables, and
poultry and liquor, which we could collect. It is very well for poets
and authors to make their heroes contented with hard fare. I can only
say that midshipmen are not, if they know that better is to be got; and
I have observed, whenever I have been in the society of poets and other
authors, that, practically, they have enjoyed a good dinner as much as
any class of people could do, and been very much inclined to grumble if
they did not get it, too. We were out some days without sighting a
single sail, but we were not the less merry, living upon hope, and the
good fare our caterer, Macquoid, had collected. At length a sail was
seen, and chase made. It was some time before we could make out whether
the stranger was a man-of-war or merchantman, a friend or foe. She was
a brig we soon discovered, and when we saw her up helm and run off
before the wind, we had no doubt as to her pacific character. Still she
might be English, and, if so, we should have had our chase for nothing.
She was a slow sailer, for we came up with her rapidly. We had showed
no colours, and had got her within range of our long guns, when up went
the French ensign. A cheer burst from our throats. It would have been
more hearty if we had thought she had been armed. We showed our colours
in return. On we stood, firing a shot wide of her as a signal for her
to heave-to. She obeyed, and we heaving-to near her, McAllister, with
Spellman and a boat's crew, was sent to take possession. The boat was
sent back with several of the French crew. The prize was not a rich
one, but she was too valuable to be destroyed, so Perigal directed
Spellman to take her to Jamaica, allowing him four hands. Miss Susan
did not at all like having his cruise cut so short, but we congratulated
him on the honour of having a separate command, being ourselves very
well contented to continue on board the Espoir. For two days more we
stood south, when, at daybreak, another sail was descried from the
mast-head. She was a schooner, and from the squareness of her yards,
her taut masts, and her white canvas, we suspected that, should she be
an enemy, she would prove a very different s