ened fire, its effects were
terrible indeed, full twenty of the Frenchmen being struck down at the
first discharge.

Meantime the English marines kept up so hot a fire on the _Didon's_
forecastle, that the seamen could not venture on it to fire the gun
which had been placed there. At length, however, the antagonists
separated, both presenting a woeful appearance.

Instead of the clouds of canvas swelling proudly to the breeze with
which they had entered into action, rope-ends and riddled sails hung
drooping down from every mast and yard. The fight was not over; the
crew of the _Phoenix_ busily employed themselves in repairing damages,
and, having knotted and spliced the rigging, and trimmed sails, she
stood towards the _Didon_.

With the first fresh puff of wind the foremast of her opponent went over
the side, and at the moment she was about to open her fire the brave
captain of the _Didon_ hauled down her colours, finding that he could
neither escape nor fight with any prospect of success. Loud cheers
burst from the British crew. This was Harry's first fight. It was
indeed a hard-fought one. Twelve men had been killed and twenty-eight
wounded of the crew; while the _Didon_ had lost no less than
twenty-seven officers and men killed, and forty-four wounded, out of a
crew of 330, while the _Phoenix_ went into action with only 245 men.
She and her prize arrived safely at Plymouth. She only remained long
enough to refit, and once more was at sea, and on her way back to the
West Indies.

Harry's next exploit was of a different character. Passing near the
Isle of Pines, two schooners and a brig were discovered far up a bight,
protected by a battery. There was little doubt that they were
privateers, and likely to do damage to British shipping.

"We must cut those vessels out," observed the captain.

The frigate stood off the land as if she was going away, but at night
once more stood back. As soon as she was well in with the land she
hove-to, and three boats were manned and lowered. Harry was appointed
to go in one of them. They were to pull up the harbour and attack the
three vessels, and, if necessary, one boat's crew was to land and storm
the fort. With muffled oars they pulled up the harbour. They could
just make out the vessels as they lay floating in silence on the calm
water, a light wind blowing off-shore. The boats got close up to the
brig before they were discovered. The enemy then, who had rus