il.

It was by this time growing dusk, and when we reached the cottage in
which General Paoli had established himself, we found that he was out
going the rounds, and seeing personally to the posting of the sentinels.
His wife, however, who had determined to share with, and if possible
mitigate for her husband the hardships of the campaign, was "at home,"
and from her we all received a most cordial welcome. She was of course
distressed to hear of the strait in which we had left her brother-in-
law, the count, but was quite decided in her opinion that he had done
right to send Francesca away to her, and believed that, once freed of
anxiety respecting his daughter, it would be found that he had been able
to defend himself so vigorously as to eventually beat off his
assailants. She pressed us very earnestly to remain until the general
should return, in order that he might have an opportunity personally to
thank us both--and me especially--for the important service rendered to
his niece; but Captain Hood was anxious to get back to his ship, so as
to go on board the admiral's ship, to take part in a council of war: we
were therefore reluctantly compelled to decline.

Before returning to the "Juno," however, we hunted up one or two
Corsican officers with whom the skipper had already become acquainted,
and learned from them that the Mortella Tower (the battery which had
been that day attacked by the two frigates) had, as far as they had been
able to ascertain, borne the storm of shot unscathed.

On the way back to the ship I learned from the skipper that the "Juno's"
consort in the action was called the "Fortitude," and that she had
suffered severely in the engagement, losing six men killed, and fifty-
six wounded, having three of her lower-deck guns dismounted, and also
being set on tire.

On reaching the "Juno" we found the decks cleared up, every sign of the
late combat effaced, and all hands below, but the anchor-watch. Mr
Annesley, however, was on deck, awaiting the skipper's return, and as I
followed the latter up the side, the first luff paused before following
him into the cabin, and said that, as soon as Captain Hood had left for
the admiral's ship, he should be glad to hear an account of my shore-
cruise. I accordingly watched the departure of the gig, and then made
my way to the poop, where all three of the lieutenants were awaiting me,
and to them I related in full detail all that had occurred to me from
the