othes, the boats were hoisted out, and the body
was deposited in the launch, with the union-jack spread over the coffin
as a pall, and the ensign hoisted half-mast high on the staff in the
boat's stern. Just as the procession was on the point of shoving off
from the ship's side, the officers of the _Vestale_, who had
incidentally learned the particulars of Austin's murder, approached in
their two gigs, with the French flag floating at half-mast from the
ensign-staves in the sterns of their boats, and took up a position in
the rear. We then shoved off; the first and second cutters taking the
launch in tow, and proceeding up the creek in charge of old Mildmay, the
master, the captain and officers following in the two gigs. As soon as
we were clear of the ship's side the _Daphne_ began firing minute-guns,
to which the _Vestale_, hoisting her ensign half up to the peak,
replied; and so we moved slowly up the creek, the minute-guns continuing
as long as the boats remained within sight of the ship. We proceeded
for a distance of about two miles, which brought us to a lovely spot
selected by the skipper, who had himself sought it out during the
morning, and there we landed. The body was then passed out of the
launch and shouldered by six petty officers; Smellie and I supporting
the pall on one side, whilst Armitage and old Mildmay performed a like
duty on the other; the skipper leading the way to the grave and reading
the burial service as he went, whilst the remaining officers and men,
followed by the contingent from the _Vestale_, formed in the rear of the
coffin. Arrived at the grave, the coffin was placed on the ground, the
ropes for lowering it to the bottom were adjusted, and finally it was
gently and reverently deposited in its last resting-place, the skipper
meanwhile reading impressively those solemn sentences beginning with
"Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live," etcetera.
A slight pause was made at the conclusion of these passages, and
Smellie, deeply affected, stepped forward and threw the first earth upon
the body of his dear friend and brother officer, after which the service
again proceeded and soon came to an end. The firing party of marines
next formed on each side of the grave and rendered the last honours to
the dead; the grave was filled in, a wooden cross being temporarily
planted at its head, and we turned sorrowfully away, entered the boats,
and with the ensigns now hoisted to t