ard the lugger, not
only raking her from stem to stern, but also bringing down her fore and
mizzen-masts. And all this time they had not replied to our fire with a
single gun.

Standing on for a distance of about a cable's length, the _Dolphin_
again tacked, this time fetching far enough to windward to have enabled
us to cross the lugger's bows had we desired to do so. Instead of that,
however, Captain Winter gave orders to keep away and pass close under
her stern, the starboard broadside being all ready to pour into her if
need were. Captain Winter's orders were, however, not to fire until he
gave the word. Reaching along on an easy bowline, we were soon on the
lugger's starboard quarter, and within biscuit-toss of the vessel, when
the skipper ordered the topsail to be laid aback, and as, with
diminished way, we drifted fair athwart the lugger's stern, in a
position admirably adapted for raking her from end to end, he sprang
into the starboard main rigging, and hailed in French, asking whether
they surrendered. A man, who looked like the captain, standing near the
deserted wheel, looked at us intently for a few seconds, and then,
observing that we were all ready to give him our starboard broadside,
answered in the affirmative; whereupon our people, several of whom had a
smattering of French, gave three hearty cheers as they dropped the
lanyards of their locks to the deck, and laid down their rammers,
sponges, and hand-spikes.

"Take the starboard cutter, Mr Bowen, and ten men, and go on board to
take possession," said the skipper. "Cut away the wreckage as soon as
you have secured the crew below, and then send the boat back with a
couple of hands, and be ready to receive a tow-line from us. We shall
have to take you in tow, as I see that the Indiaman is now on a wind;
and I have no fancy for leaving either her or you to make your way into
port unprotected. As soon as you are fast to us, set your men to work
to get up jury-masts, if you find that there are any spars aboard
suitable for the purpose. There is a fine breeze blowing now, and if we
have luck we ought to get into harbour to-night, prizes and all."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered I. "The carpenter had better come with us, had
he not? I expect we shall want his help in rigging our jury-masts."

"Yes, certainly," assented the skipper; "take him by all means."

"Thank you, sir," said I as I turned away. "Now then," I continued,
"ten of you into the star