hed to
their guns, which were run out, opened a hot fire from them, with
muskets and pistols; but the boats being close the shots passed over the
heads of their crews. With loud cheers the British sprang up the sides
of the brig. The crew bravely stood to their arms, but were speedily
overpowered by the impetuosity of the boarders, and were cut down or
driven below, some in their terror leaping overboard.

While Harry Treherne and his crew remained on board, the other two boats
proceeded to the attack of the schooners. He, meantime, having secured
the prisoners below, sent some of his hands aloft to loose sails while
the cable was cut, and in a few minutes the captured brig was standing
out of the harbour. The roar of the guns, the clashing of steel, and
the rattle of musketry had aroused the garrison of the fort, which
opened fire on the brig. The shots fell around her, and several went
through her sails, but no one was hurt. As he passed near the schooners
he listened anxiously for the signal which was to announce their
capture. First one loud cheer and then another told him that the work
was done, and they were soon perceived following under all sail, little
heeding the fire from the fort. Harry Treherne, with all the officers
and men engaged, was warmly commended for the spirited way in which the
exploit had been performed. It was not the only deed of naval daring in
which he took an active part.

At length the frigate was ordered to Bermuda on her way home. Within a
short distance of that island a suspicious vessel was seen from the
mast-head. Sail was made in chase. The stranger on discovering the
frigate did her utmost to escape, steering to the eastward, the wind
being from the west. A stern chase is a long chase. The night was
clear and the stranger was kept in sight. When morning dawned the
frigate had scarcely gained on her. This made the captain still more
eager to overtake her. All that day the chase continued--the frigate
gaining, however, somewhat on the stranger, a large fore-and-aft
schooner. At length, at sundown, it fell calm, and fears were
entertained that, should a mist rise, the schooner might escape during
the night. The captain therefore, sent three of the boats to capture
her. They had been discovered some time before they got alongside.
Boarding nettings were up, small-arm men were stationed at the bow and
stern, and as they drew near the guns opened a hot fire with grape