r's mainmast; and while
this was being done she fired her starboard broadside at us, one of the
shot from which passed through our mainsail, while another struck our
fore-topmast about a foot above the topsail-halliard sheave-hole,
bringing down the upper part of the spar and the topgallant-sail.

The Frenchmen's cheers at this success were still floating down to us,
when, having personally supervised the levelling and training of our
guns, I gave the order to fire. Sharp at the word, our broadside rang
out; and as the smoke blew over us and away to leeward the lugger's
mainmast was seen to suddenly double up, as it were, in the middle, the
upper portion toppling over to leeward and carrying the sail with it
into the water, while the foresail began to flap furiously in the wind,
the sheet having been shot away.

"Hurrah, men! capitally done!" shouted the skipper; "you have her now,"
as the lugger, under her mizzen only, shot up into the wind, plunging
heavily. "Ready about! and stand by to rake her with your starboard
broadside as we cross her stern. Helm's a-lee! Load your port guns
again as smartly as you please, my lads. Topsail haul! Stand by, the
starboard battery, and give it her as your guns are brought to bear!
Away aloft there, a couple of hands, and clear the wreck of the
topgallant-mast!"

The _Dolphin_, tacking as fast as the men could haul round the yards,
without losing headway for an instant, went round like a top, and in
less than half a minute was crossing the lugger's stern. There was
tremendous confusion on board, her crew, to the number of some thirty or
forty, rushing about her decks,--as we could now plainly see,--
apparently undecided what to do next. At the proper moment our
starboard broadside was fired, and the great white, jagged patch that
instantly afterwards appeared in the lugger's transom showed that pretty
nearly, if not quite all, the shot had taken effect.

"Well aimed, men!" cried the skipper in an ecstasy of delight. "That is
the way to bring them to their senses. Ready about again! And stand by
to give them your port broadside. Helm's a-lee!"

Round swept the _Dolphin_ again, and presently we were once more
crossing the stern of the lugger, the confusion on board being, as it
seemed, greater than ever. We were by this time within a quarter of a
mile of our antagonist, and again our broadside, discharged at precisely
the right moment, told with terrible effect on bo