ous
night, the middle watch was proposed for the attempt, which had thus far
been attended with success.

Seymour and Jerry remained quiet at the mastheads; for although they did
not attempt to communicate with each other, for fear of discovery, they
both rightly judged that it would be best to remain till daylight; by
which time, some plans would have been formed by the party below, which
their situation would enable them materially to assist. Nearly four
hours elapsed previous to the dawning of the day, during which interval
Jerry had ample time to say some of those prayers which he spoke of; and
which it was to be supposed that they both did not fail to offer up in
their perilous situation.

As soon as the day began to break, Jerry, who had not yet loaded his
musket, lest he might be heard, thought it time to prepare for action.
He primed, and put in his cartridge, in the ramming down of which a
slight ringing of the ramrod against the muzzle attracted the notice of
one of the Frenchmen, who, looking up, after a short time,
exclaimed:--"_Diable! c'est monsieur misere qui est la_!"

Jerry levelled with a steady aim, and the bullet passed through the
broad chest of the Frenchman, who rolled upon the deck.

"Now, they may chant your _miserere_," cried the youngster.

A second shot from the fore-cross-trees laid another Frenchman alongside
of his companion.

"_Comment! diable! nous serons abimes par ces enfans la; il faut
monter_."

The muskets were again loaded, and again each boy brought down his bird,
before the Frenchmen could decide upon their operations. It was a case
of necessity that the youngsters should be attacked; but it was a
service of no little danger, and of certain destruction to one, who must
fall a sacrifice, that the other might be able to secure the youngster
before he had time to reload his musket. Two of the most daring flew to
the main-rigging, one ascending to windward, and the other to lee-ward.
Seymour, who perceived their intentions, reserved his fire until he saw
the one in the weather rigging fall by Jerry's musket; he then levelled
at the one to leeward, who dropped into the lee-chains, and from thence
into the sea. Thus had six Frenchmen already fallen by the coolness and
determination of two boys, one but fourteen, and the other not sixteen
years old.

A short consultation ended in the Frenchmen resorting to the only
measures likely to be attended with success. Leaving thre