at they might have
the chance of gaining a ship for themselves. At length the wind fell
very light, and the Admiral, ordering the fleet to lay to, sent an
officer on board each ship which had been engaged, to inquire into her
condition and the state of the wounded. It was a trying time when the
Captain of the flagship himself came on board the _Terrible_. Half the
men were lying about between the guns, overcome with fatigue, while the
remainder were working away at the pumps in a way which showed that they
knew their lives depended on their exertions. He examined the ship
below, and when he went on deck he cast his eye on the masts and spars.
He then took Captain Penrose aside, and, after talking with him, went
back to the flagship. He soon returned, and a few more words passed
between him and the Captain.

Captain Penrose then appeared on the quarterdeck with a sorrowful
countenance.

"Gentlemen," said he with a voice almost choked with emotion, turning to
his officers, "and you, my gallant fellows, who have served with me so
long and so faithfully, I have sad news to tell you. It is the opinion
of those competent to judge, that we cannot hope to keep the old ship
afloat much longer. If we could put her on shore, we might save her to
carry us yet longer through the `battle and the breeze;' but we have
only a hostile shore under our lee, with an enemy's fleet in sight, far
superior to ours, and which has lately been reinforced by five
ships-of-the-line; and therefore, my friends, it has been decided that
we must abandon and destroy her."

The old man could scarcely speak for some minutes, while a general groan
ran through the ship's company. Paul Pringle turned his eyes towards
the distant fleet of the enemy, and thought, "But why can't we get
alongside some of them Monsieurs and take a ship for ourselves? We'd do
it--we knows we could, if the Captain would give the word."

The men were mistaken; but the expressions to which they gave vent
showed the spirit which animated them.

"Now, my lads," continued the Captain, "the boats of the squadron will
soon be alongside. Each man will have ready his bag and hammock; the
officers their clothes, nautical instruments, and desks. One thing I
promise you,--and that's a satisfaction to all, I know, boys, as it is
to me,--that, come what may, our stout old ship, which has carried us so
long through the tempest and the fight, will never fall into the hands
of our e