We did, sir.--Talbot, you tell the story."

"No, no, I cannot; 't is your part, Seymour."

Here, in the presence of friends, and friends who knew and loved
Colonel Wilton and his daughter, neither of the young men felt equal to
the tale. Each day brought home to them their bitter sorrow more
powerfully than before, and each hour but deepened the anguish in their
hearts.

"Why, what is this? What has happened? The transport is safe, you
said," continued the general, in some anxiety. "What is it?"

"I can tell, if your honor pleases, sir," said the deep voice of
Bentley.

"Speak, man, speak."

"It happened this way, sir: we were off Cape Cod, heading northwest by
west for Boston, about a week ago, close hauled on the starboard tack
in a half gale of wind. Your honor knows what the starboard tack is?"

"Yes, yes, certainly; go on."

"When about three bells in the afternoon watch,--your honor knows what
three bells--Ay, ay, sir," continued the seaman, noting the general's
impatient nod. "Well, sir, we spied a large sail coming down on us
fast; we ran off free, she following. Pretty soon we made her out a
frigate, a heavy frigate of thirty-six guns, and a fast one too, for
she rapidly overhauled us. We cracked on sail, even setting the
topmast stunsail, till it blew away. Then we cut away bulwarks and
rails, flattened the sails by jiggers on the sheets and halliards until
they set like boards, pumped her out, cast adrift the boats, cut away
anchors, but it was n't any use; she kept a-gaining on us. By and by
we came to George's Shoal extending about three leagues across our
course to the southeast of Cape Cod. There is a pass through the
shoal; Lieutenant Seymour knows it, we surveyed it this last summer.
We brought the ship to on the wind on the same tack again, near the
shoal, and ran for the mouth of the pass. The frigate edged off to run
us down. Lieutenant Talbot broke out a field-piece from the hold and
mounted it as a stern-chaser, and used it too--"

"Good! well done!" said the general, nodding approvingly. "Go on."

"We came to the mouth of the pass. The frigate fired a broadside. One
shot carried away the mizzen topgallant mast; another sent a shower of
splinters inboard, killing the man at the wheel. The ship falls off
and enters the pass. I seize the helm. Mr. Seymour conned us through.
The frigate chased madly after us. She sees the breakers; she can't
follow us, draws too much wa