s uttered amid the deafening roar of his own cannon. The Pilot had,
however, mistaken the skill and readiness of their foe; for,
notwithstanding the disadvantageous circumstances under which the
Englishman increased his sail, the duty was steadily and dexterously
performed.

7. The two ships were now running rapidly on parallel lines, hurling at
each other their instruments of destruction with furious industry, and
with severe and certain loss to both, though with no manifest advantage in
favor of either. Both Griffith and the Pilot witnessed, with deep concern,
this unexpected defeat of their hopes; for they could not conceal from
themselves that each moment lessened their velocity through the water, as
the shot of the enemy stripped the canvas from the yards, or dashed aside
the lighter spars in their terrible progress.

8. "We find our equal here," said Griffith to the stranger. "The ninety is
heaving up again like a mountain; and if we continue to shorten sail at
this rate, she will soon be down upon us!"

"You say true, sir," returned the Pilot, musing, "the man shows judgment
as well as spirit; but--"

9. He was interrupted by Merry, who rushed from the forward part of the
vessel, his whole face betokening the eagerness of his spirit and the
importance of his intelligence.--

"The breakers!" he cried, when nigh enough to be heard amid the din; "we
are running dead on a ripple, and the sea is white not two hundred yards
ahead."

10. The Pilot jumped on a gun, and, bending to catch a glimpse through the
smoke, he shouted, in those clear, piercing tones, that could be even
heard among the roaring of the cannon,--

"Port, port your helm! we are on the Devil's Grip! Pass up the trumpet,
sir; port your helm, fellow; give it to them, boys--give it to the proud
English dogs!"

11. Griffith unhesitatingly relinquished the symbol of his rank, fastening
his own firm look on the calm but quick eye of the Pilot, and gathering
assurance from the high confidence he read in the countenance of the
stranger. The seamen were too busy with their cannon and the rigging to
regard the new danger; and the frigate entered one of the dangerous passes
of the shoals, in the heat of a severely contested battle.

12. The wondering looks of a few of the older sailors glanced at the
sheets of foam that flew by them, in doubt whether the wild gambols of the
waves were occasioned by the shot of the enemy, when suddenly the noise of
cann