the Frenchmen were seen close-hauled under their lee.

"What can them chaps be about now?" asked Will Freeborn of Paul Pringle
as they stood near each other before going to their respective stations.
"They are not going to sneak away after all, I hope."

"I'm not quite so sure but that they are going to try it on, though,"
answered Paul, eyeing the distant fleet of the French with no friendly
eye. "But I'll tell you what: Admiral Rodney is not the chap to let 'em
off so easily. Ah, look! they are tacking again; they see it won't do.
Hurrah! lads, we'll be at them now before long."

The cheer was taken up by others, and ran along the decks, and was
echoed from ship to ship along the British line. Every preparation was
now made for immediate action. The magazines were opened, the powder
and shot were got up, the bulkheads had long been down, the small-arms
were served out, the men bound their heads with their handkerchiefs,
threw off their jackets and shirts, buckled on their cutlasses, and
stuck pistols in their belts. Meantime, as it had been arranged, Sam
Smatch was sent to look after Billy True Blue, and to carry him down
into the hold as soon as the ship was getting within range of the
enemy's fire.

"Let me just have a look at my boy!" exclaimed Will, as Sam brought him
out on deck, as he said, to show him the enemy whom he would one day
learn to thrash.

Will took the child in his arms, and he gave a glance of affection;
then, giving little Billy back to Sam, he urged him not to delay too
long in taking him below, and sprang aloft to his post in the top, to be
ready to make any alterations that might be required in the sails while
the ship was going into action.

Some hours from sunrise passed away, during which time the fleet was
slowly approaching the reluctant enemy. It wanted but ten minutes to
noon, when the signal flew out from the masthead of the Admiral for the
fleet to bear down on the French, each ship to steer for and closely
engage the one nearest to her in the enemy's line. The order was
received with a hearty huzza. It was promptly and exactly obeyed.
Still, from the lightness of the wind, it was nearly one before the
engagement became general. And now along the whole line arose dense
volumes of smoke--bright flashes were seen, and the roar of the guns,
and the shouts and shrieks of the combatants were heard. Thickly flew
the round-shot--the gallant Admiral in the _Sandwich_ was engage