uld make nothing of
their flags, which at least proved that they were not British. To make
assurance doubly sure, however, we had hoisted our private signal, to
which neither ship had been able to reply. There was no doubt that they
were enemies; and this fact having been satisfactorily established, I
was permitted to descend and snatch a hasty breakfast.

And a hasty one it was, for I had scarcely been below five minutes when
we were piped to clear for action, and I was obliged to hurry on deck
again. But a hungry midshipman can achieve a good deal in the eating
line in five minutes, and in that brief interval I contrived to stow
away enough food to take the keen edge off my appetite, promising myself
that I would make up my leeway at dinner-time--provided that I was still
alive when the hour for that meal came round. This last thought sobered
me down somewhat, and to a certain extent subdued my hilarious spirits;
but they rose again as, upon gaining the deck, I looked round and saw
the cheerful yet resolute faces of the captain and officers, and noted
the gaiety with which the men went about their duty.

The strangers had by this time shown their bunting,--the tricolour,--so
there was no further question of their nationality or of the fact that
we were booked for a sharp fight, for they had the heels of us and were
overhauling us in grand style; we could not therefore have escaped, had
we been ever so anxious to do so. And, had we made the attempt, we
should certainly have been quite justified, for it had now been
ascertained that they were both forty-gun ships, while we mounted only
thirty-six pieces on our gun deck. Escape, however, was apparently the
very last thought likely to occur to Captain Harrison; for although he
kept the studding-sails abroad while the ship was being prepared for
action, no sooner had the first lieutenant reported everything ready
than the order was given to shorten sail; and a pretty sight it was to
see how smartly and with what beautifully perfect precision everything
was done at once, the studding-sails all collapsing and coming in
together at exactly the same moment that the three royals were clewed up
and the flight of staysails on the main and mizzen masts hauled down.

"Very prettily done, Mr Dawson," said the skipper approvingly. "Our
friends yonder will see that they have seamen to deal with, at all
events, even though we cannot sport such a clean pair of heels as their
ow