was seen through the sails.
Without a moment's delay the guns were hauled in. The powder-boys
sprang up from their tubs and handed out the powder, which being quickly
rammed home, the shot was thrown into the muzzle. Again the guns were
run out. No order was now required for firing, but as rapidly as the
guns could be loaded they were discharged towards the enemy.

Thus for some time the English ship ran alongside her huge antagonist.
Her name painted on her stern was the "Fougueux," and thirty ports were
counted on each side. Jack Deane stood at his gun, hauling it in with
right good will, and running it out still more eagerly as fast as his
arms and those of his mates could work it, thinking of nothing else, and
not looking round, even to see what had become of any of those near him.
Now and then he heard a groan or a cry, and as he turned round to hand
on the powder or the shot, he saw perchance a poor fellow amidst the
smoke struggling on the deck. Next moment there was a loud crash close
to him, and he found himself sprinkled over from head to foot with
blood. He felt no pain, and scarcely knew whether it was his own or
that of a shipmate. No sound was heard, but he saw that the man who had
stood next to him the moment before was no longer there, but a few feet
off a human being lay stretched on the deck. He was about to stoop down
to help the man during the interval that the charge was being rammed
home.

"Let him alone," said the captain of the gun; "he has drunk his last
glass of grog. See, that's his blood which has turned you into a red
Indian. Hurrah, lads! we'll revenge him, and all those who lose the
number of their mess to-day!"

All this time the small-arm men were not idle. Showers of bullets were
flying from the tops and forecastle, returned from those of the enemy.

Now an attempt was made by the "Fougueux," by bracing up her yards, to
cross under the stern of the "Weymouth." This, however, was quickly
prevented by Captain Jumper, by a similar manoeuvre, as he had no
intention of giving up the advantageous position he held.

It was impossible to ascertain the effect which the fire of the British
ship was producing among the French crew, but Jack could not help
fearing that a considerable number of his shipmates were either killed
or wounded. Those who were wounded were immediately carried below,
while the killed were borne to the other side of the deck, and slipped
overboard through t