"

"Ay, ay, sir," he answered, stepping forward over the prostrate bodies
of our shipmates to execute the order.

Assisted by two of the men the least hurt, we got the mast stepped.

"Now up with the sail, my men!" I sang out.

At length it was hoisted, though the moment the enemy saw what we were
about they seemed to redouble their efforts to destroy us. I breathed
more freely as I got the sheet aft, and saw the canvas swelling with the
breeze; but even then I knew that a shot might carry away our mast or
halliards, or, indeed, send us all to the bottom. Just as I had got all
to rights, and was ready to take the helm, poor little Harry, overcome
with pain and the loss of blood, sank down by my side. I placed him
carefully in the stern-sheets, and Tom Rockets, though badly wounded
himself, crawled aft and endeavoured to examine his wound and to staunch
the blood which flowed copiously from his side. The bullets began now
to fall less thickly about us than before--a sign that we were
increasing our distance from the shore. Had the enemy possessed a boat
they might have taken us without difficulty, but, fortunately, they had
none. Indeed, I have no doubt that their aim was to destroy us
completely, as a punishment on us for our attempt to burn their vessel.
In spite of the shots which still fell around us, we kept steadily on
our course, while occasionally I turned an uneasy glance over my
shoulder to see how far we had got from the enemy. At length scarcely a
shot reached us; a gentle thud every now and then showing us that those
which did so had almost lost their power. I was able now to pay more
attention to my young companion. I asked him how he did.

"I am afraid that I am more hurt than I at first fancied," he replied.
"If I die, you will write to my mother, and tell her all about me, will
you, Hurry?"

"Oh, don't talk of dying, my good boy," I answered, though I felt a
choking sensation in my throat as I spoke. "We shall soon be on board,
and then you will be properly cared for, and will feel more easy."

"Oh, I do not complain," said he, "still, I have an idea that I am
mortally wounded. Perhaps it is only fancy, you know, and I am not
afraid."

"That's right, be a brave boy, and keep up your spirits. You've many
more years to live, and will be an admiral one of these days, I hope,"
said I, though my hopes were far less sanguine than my words. "See,
scarcely any of the shots reach us; we sha