rs of the corvette; that a
quarter-master of the Beaulieu, with a party of men to protect him, was
to take charge of the helm; that others were to fight their way aloft,
to let fall the topsails; and that he, with his men and another boat's
crew, was to hold possession of the forecastle, and to cut the cables.
All this was to be done in spite of any fighting which might be taking
place. Some were to sheet home the topsails, and the remainder were to
do their best to overpower the enemy. We had got some way, when we
caught sight of a strange boat inside of us.

The commander of the expedition, supposing that she belonged to the
Chevrette, summoning five other boats to attend him, made chase to
secure her, ordering his second in command to pull slowly on till he
rejoined the expedition. On we went. As to pulling slow, that was a
very difficult thing to do just then. So eager were the men, that they
couldn't help putting more strength into their strokes than they
intended. All I know is that the nine remaining boats got close up to
the harbour's mouth, and that the others had not joined. We lay on our
oars, as ordered, for a short time.

"What can have become of them?" exclaimed a lieutenant in one of the
boats.

"Daylight will be upon us if we don't look sharp," said another.

"It would be a disgrace to go back without attempting something," cried
a third.

"We will lose no more time, but try what we can do without them," said
the senior officer of the party. He was undoubtedly very eager to lead
on the occasion. Certain necessary alterations were made.

"Gentlemen, you all know your respective duties," he added. "Then give
way!"

Right cheerfully the men bent to their oars, and up the harbour we
dashed. I kept looking ahead for the enemy. I knew that as soon as we
saw her, she would see us, and then the fun would begin. I felt rather
nervous, but very eager.

"There she is," cried the boatswain.

Suddenly through the gloom, I saw the tall masts and spars of the ship
we were to attack. A voice from her hailed us in French. Of course our
only reply was a hearty cheer, and on we dashed faster than ever. Not
unmolested though. The next moment, sheets of flame darted from the
ports, from one end of the ship to the other, and showers of grape and
bullets rattled about our heads. A groan, or a cry of anguish from some
of the boats, told that the emissaries of destruction had taken effect.
Thick fel