HIS ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF ST. VINCENT.

We had not been more than a week under the Danish island of St. Thomas,
when we discovered a brig close in-shore. We made all sail in chase,
and soon came within a mile and a half of the shore, when she anchored
under a battery, which opened its fire upon us. Their elevation was too
great, and several shots passed over us and between our masts.

"I once met with a very remarkable circumstance," observed Captain
Kearney. "Three guns were fired at a frigate I was on board of, from a
battery, all at the same time. The three shots cut away the three
topsail ties, and down came all our topsail-yards upon the cap at the
same time. That the Frenchmen might not suppose that they had taken
such good aim, we turned up our hands to reef topsails; and by the time
that the men were off the yards, the ties were spliced, and the topsails
run up again."

Mr Phillott could not stand this most enormous fib, and he replied,
"Very odd, indeed, Captain Kearney: but I have known a stranger
circumstance. We had put in the powder to the four guns on the main
deck, when we were fighting the Danish gun-boats, in a frigate I was in;
and as the men withdrew the rammer, a shot from the enemy entered the
muzzle and completed the loading of each gun. We fired their own shot
back upon them, and this occurred three times running."

"Upon my word," replied Captain Kearney, who had his glass upon the
battery, "I think you must have dreamt that circumstance, Mr Phillott."

"Not more than you did about the topsail ties, Captain Kearney."

Captain Kearney at that time had the long glass in his hand, holding it
up over his shoulder. A shot from the battery whizzed over his head,
and took the glass out of his hand, shivering it to pieces. "That's
once," said Captain Kearney, very coolly; "but will you pretend that
that could ever happen three times running? They might take my head
off, or my arm, next time, but not another glass; whereas the topsail
ties might be cut by three different shot. But give me another glass,
Mr Simple, I am certain that this vessel is a privateer. What think
you, Mr O'Brien?"

"I am every bit of your opinion, Captain Kearney," replied O'Brien; "and
I think it would be a very pretty bit of practice to the ship's company
to take her out from under that footy battery."

"Starboard the helm, Mr Phillott; keep away four points, and then we
will think of it to-night."

The f