Part 2 (1/2)
The _Foxhound_ had for so in the Bay of Biscay, and was oneabout the latitude of Ferrol The watch was e about with their trousers tucked up to their knees, so about in every direction, now and then giving a shi+pmate, when the first lieutenant's eye was off thee swabs, slashi+ng theht and left, with loud thuds, and ill would it have fared with any incautious landshing and joking with each other, and the occupation seemed to afford amusement to all employed
Suddenly there came a shout froht”
”Where away?” asked Lieutenant Saltwell, as on deck superintending the operations going forward
”Dead to leeward, sir,” was the answer
The as at the ti close hauled, on the starboard tack, to the ard
The lass hung at his back, to take a look at the strangers, while a , who, beforehurriedly slipped into his clothes
On receiving the report of the young officer, who had returned on deck, he immediately ordered the helm to be put up, and the shi+p to be kept away in the direction of the strangers
In a short tie shi+ps; one of theer than the _Foxhound_
The business of washi+ng down the decks had been quickly concluded, and the creere sent to their breakfasts
Many reht that the captain would never drea so superior a force; while others, who knew hiht
As yet no order had been received to beat to quarters, and many were of opinion that the captain would only stand on near enough to ascertain the character of the strangers, and then, should they prove eneate stood on, and Bill, as near one of the officers who had a glass in his hand, heard him observe that one was a line-of-battle shi+p, two at least were frigates, while another was a corvette, and the fifth a large brig-of-war
These were formidable odds, but still their plucky captain showed no inclination to escape from them, but, on the contrary, see the decided The druuns, powder and shot were handed up fro ample occupation to the powder-monkeys, and the shi+p was headed towards the nearest of the strangers She was still some distance off when the creere summoned aft to hear what the captain had to say to theht under ainst us, we licked the enereater odds, perhaps, at present, but I want to take two or three of those shi+ps; they are not quite as powerful as they look, and if you ork your guns as I know you can work them, we'll do it before many hours have passed We have a fine breeze to help us, and will tackle one after the other You'll support iven as a response to this appeal, and the uns, where they stood stripped to their waists, with handkerchiefs bound round their heads
Notwithstanding the for down under plain sail towards the on their tubs, could see but very little of as going forward, though now and then they got a glih the ports; but they heard the rehbourhood, ere allowed to talk till the time for action had arrived
”Our skipper knohat he's about, but that chap ahead of the rest is a h to tackle us without the help of the others,” observed one of the crew of the gun nearest to which Tom was seated
”What's the odds if she carries twice as many teeth as we have! we'll work ours twice as fast, and beat her before the frigates can coun
To to be a sharp fight, of that there could be no doubt, and round shot would soon be cos and arms It struck hiht of his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, who, if he was killed, would never knohat had become of hi to the courage even of older hands, thus standing on slowly towards the eneun, Tom was likely to prove as brave as anybody else; at all events, he would have no ti, and it is that which tries most people
The captain and lasses on the ene shi+p under French colours appears to uns,” observed the first lieutenant to the captain; ”and the next, also a French is American, and so is one of the sloops The sternish shi+p”
”Whatever they are, we'll fight them, and, I hope, take one or two at least,” answered the captain