.

As soon as the ship got near enough to make out the French ensign flying
on board the _Cleopatra_ and _Ville de Milan_, up went the British
ensign. Forgetting for the moment by whom I was surrounded, I could
scarcely avoid cheering aloud as I watched it fluttering in the breeze.
The Frenchmen, in their rage and disappointment, swore and stamped, and
tore their hair, and committed all sorts of senseless extravagances, and
I felt that it would be wise to keep out of their sight as much as
possible, as some of them might, perchance, bestow on me a broken head,
or worse, for my pains.

The two frigates closed for mutual support, but when I came to consider
the condition they were in, I had little doubt that the English ship
would be more than a match for them. The stranger had first been seen
soon after daybreak. The people had now just had their breakfasts.
They were not long below, for all were anxious to watch the progress of
their enemy. The weather had been all the morning very doubtful, and
thick clouds were gathering in the sky. My earnest prayer was that it
would continue moderate; I began, however, to fear that my hopes would
be disappointed. The clouds grew thicker and seemed to descend lower
and lower, while a mist arose which every instant grew denser.

At length, when I had for a short time turned my head away from our big
pursuer, I again looked out. What was my horror and disappointment not
to be able to see the English ship in any direction! I looked around
and tried to pierce the thick mist which had come on, but in vain; and
again my heart sank within me. The Frenchmen also searched for their
enemy; but when they could not find her, they, on the contrary, began to
sing and snap their fingers, and to exhibit every sign of satisfaction
at the prospect of escaping her.

One or two of my shipmates had slipped up on deck, and they returned
with the sad tidings below. After a little time I joined them. I found
them all deep in a consultation together. It was proposed that we
should rise upon the French prize crew, and, taking the frigate from
them, go in search of the English ship. Some were for the plan, some
were against it. It was argued that the _Ville de Milan_ would, at
every risk, attempt to stop us--that, short-handed as we were, we could
not hope to hold out against her--that we might very probably miss the
English ship, and then, if we fell in with another Frenchman, we should
very