e. I hope that we shall have to board; that's the way I should like
to take the enemy."

"Why, your cutlass would run away with you, Tommy," said a big mate, who
delighted to sneer at Tommy. "It is a shame to send such children as
you to sea."

"His spirit may run away with him," observed Harry. "Never mind what
old Hulks says; Nelson was a little chap, and he did a few things to be
proud of."

Many a joke and laugh were indulged in as the men, stripped to the
waist, stood at their guns, while the frigate approached her powerful
antagonist. At length, as she got within range, the Frenchman opened
his fire, the shot flying through the sails and wounding severely the
masts, yards, and rigging. Not a gun, however, was discharged on board
the _Phoenix_ in return till it could take deadly effect. The _Didon_,
the French frigate, however, from fast sailing and clever manoeuvring,
always managed to keep in such a position that the guns of the _Phoenix_
could not bear on her. At length the English losing patience, ran right
down on the _Didon_ to windward, and thus the two antagonists were
brought broadside to broadside.

This was the longed-for moment, and the British crew made up for the
previous delay by working their guns with a rapidity which soon strewed
the decks of the enemy with the dead and wounded, damaged her hull, and
cut up her rigging.

Again the French ship got clear; but, as she had lost several of her
sails, the _Phoenix_ was more of a match for her. Once more the
antagonists closed, this time in a deadly embrace, the bow of the
_Didon_ running into the quarter of the _Phoenix_.

"We have you now," cried the gallant captain, lashing, with the help of
some of his men, the bowsprit of the enemy to his own mizen mast.

While he was so employed, Harry Treherne and Tommy Butts saw a Frenchman
taking deliberate aim at him. Tommy had got hold of the musket of a
marine who had fallen wounded.

"See, Harry, what a little chap can do!" he exclaimed; at the same
moment firing at the Frenchman, who fell, his musket going off and
sending the bullet flying just above the captain's head.

Captain Butler saw the act, and nodded his thanks, for he had no time to
speak. The next proceeding was to bring a heavy gun to fire through a
port which had been formed by enlarging one of the cabin windows.
Several seamen fell, picked off by the French marines, till the gun was
in its place. When, however, it once op