in the waist from forward. We are nearing her now. It is
beautiful to see how she behaves: when she heels over, we can perceive
that all her men are lashed on deck, and she takes whole seas into her
fore and aft mainsail, and pours them out again as she rises from the
lurch. She deserves to escape, at all events."

She did not, however, obtain her deserts, for about twelve o'clock in
the day we were within a mile of her. At two, the marines were firing
small arms at her, for we would not yaw to fire at her a gun, although
she was right under our bows. When within a cable's length we shortened
sail, so as to keep at that distance astern, and the chase, after having
lost several men by musketry, the captain of her waved his hat in token
of surrender. We immediately shortened sail to keep the weather-gage,
pelting her until every sail was lowered down: we then rounded to,
keeping her under our lee, and firing at every man who made his
appearance on deck. Taking possession of her was a difficult task: a
boat could hardly live in such a sea and when the captain called aloud
for volunteers, and I heard Tom's voice in the cutter as it was lowering
down, my heart misgave me lest he should meet with some accident. At
last I knew, from the conversation on deck, that the cutter had got safe
on board, and my mind was relieved. The surgeon came up and dressed my
arm, and I then received comparative bodily as well as mental relief.

It was not until the next day, when we lay to, with the schooner close
to us, that the weather became sufficiently moderate to enable us to
receive the prisoners, and put our own men and officers on board. The
prize proved to be an American-built schooner, fitted out as a French
privateer. She was called the _Cerf Agile_, mounting fourteen guns, of
nearly three hundred tons measurement, and with a crew of one hundred
and seventy men, of which forty-eight were away in prizes. It was
perhaps fortunate that the boats were not able to attack her, as they
would have received a very warm reception. Thus did we succeed in
capturing this mischievous vessel, after a chase of two hundred and
seventy miles. As soon as all the arrangements were made, we shaped our
course, with the privateer in company, for Halifax, where we arrived in
about five weeks. My wound was now nearly healed, but my arm had wasted
away, and I was unable to return to my duty. It was well known that I
wrote a good hand, and I vo