s glided rapidly over the smooth, shining
ocean. Their crews were eager to be up with their expected prize. The
sun beat down on their heads, the water shone like polished silver, not
a breath of air came to cool the heated atmosphere; but they cared not
for the heat or fatigue, all they thought of was the prize before them.
Paul lay snugly under his shelter, wondering when they would reach the
enemy's side. He soon began to repent of his freak; he could hear the
remarks of the men as they pulled on. The ship was from her appearance
a letter of marque or a privateer, and such was not likely to yield
without a severe struggle, he heard. Paul could endure the suspense no
longer, and creeping from under his covering, he looked out over the
bows.

"Hillo, youngster, what brings you here?" sung out Mr Bruff. "If you
come off with a whole skin, as I hope you will, you must expect a taste
of the cat to remind you that you are not to play such a trick again."

The reprimand from the kind-hearted mate might have been longer, but it
was cut short by a shot from the enemy, which almost took the ends off
the blades of the oars of his boat. The men cheered and dashed forward.
At the same moment eight ports on a side were exposed, and a hot fire
opened on the boats from as many guns, and from swivels and muskets.
Hot as was the fire, it did not for a moment stop the boats. Paul
wished that he had remained on board. The deck of the enemy seemed
crowded with men.

"Hurrah, lads!" cried Peter Bruff when he saw this, "they'll only hamper
each other and give us an easier victory."

The boats dashed alongside. Langrage and grape and round-shot were
discharged at them, and boarding-pikes, muskets, and pistols were seen
protruding through the ports ready for their reception. The boats
hooked on, and, in spite of all opposition, the British seamen began to
climb up the side. Some were driven back and hurled into the boats,
wounded, too often mortally; the rest persevered. Again and again the
attempt was made, the deck was gained, a desperate hand-to-hand combat
began. It could have but one termination, the defeat of the attackers
or the attacked. Paul climbed up with the rest of his shipmates. It is
surprising that human beings could have faced the bristling mass of
weapons which the British seamen had to encounter. Paul followed close
behind Reuben, who kept abreast of Mr Noakes. Pistols were fired in
their faces, cutla