Part 3 (1/2)
”What's going to happen?” cried To down!”
CHAPTER THREE
BILL DOES GOOD SERVICE
The _Foxhound_ appeared indeed to be in a perilous position The water washed higher and higher over the deck ”We are going doe are going down!” again cried To his hands
”Not if we can help it,” said Jack ”Wein”
”It's no use crying out till we are hurt We can die but once,” said Bill ”Cheer up, Toone before;” though Bill did not really think that the shi+p was sinking Perhaps, had he done so, he would not have been so cool as he now appeared
”That's a very poor consolation,” answered Tom to his last remark ”Oh, dear! oh, dear! I wish that I had stayed on shore”
Though there was soan to look very white, if they did not actually wring their hands and cry out, the crews of the guns remained at their stations, and hauled away lustily at the tackles to run theh on the quarter-deck, was fully aware of the danger There was no time to shorten sail
”Port the helm!” he shouted; ”hard a-port, square away the yards;” and in a few seconds the shi+p, put before the wind, rose to an even keel, the water, in a wave, rushi+ng across the deck, soh a considerable portion made its way below
The starboard ports were now speedily closed, when once more the shi+p hauled up in chase
The _Foxhound_, sailing well, soon got up again with the _Menager_, and oncethat of the eneuished about six ht probable that soht come out to the assistance of their friends It was important to make the chase a prize before that should happen
For so set all the sail the _Foxhound_ could carry
”Don't fire a shot till I tell you,” he shouted to his uns stood ready for the order to discharge the whole broadside into the ene it, the word ”Fire” was on his lips, when down cauns the British seamen uttered three joyful cheers
The _Foxhound_ was hove-to to ard of the prize, while three of the boats were lowered and pulled towards her The third lieutenant of the _Foxhound_ was sent in co also lowered, her officers and creere transferred as fast as possible on board their captor
As the _Menager_ was a large shi+p, she required a good reatly diminished crew
It took upwards of an hour before the prisoners with their bags and other personal property were re and Lieutenant Saltwell turned their eyes pretty often towards the harbour No shi+ps were seen coate and her two prizes consequently steered in the direction the other vessels had gone, the captain hoping to pick up one orHer di to their proper duties, and in looking after the prisoners
The commanders of the two shi+ps were received by the captain in his cabin, while the gun-room officers invited those of si care of the French and Auests than prisoners, being ready to attend to their wants and to do them any service in their power
Their manner towards the Frenchmen showed the compassion they felt, mixed perhaps with a certain amount of conte babes, and severaltheht neither the watch below nor any of the officers turned in, the greater nuht of one of the shi+ps which had hitherto escaped them
Note: This action and the subsequent events are described exactly as they occurred
The A soreat contrast to the behaviour of the French able to speak a little English, allowed his tongue to ithout cessation, laughing and joking, and trying to raise a smile on the countenance of his brother captive, the American skipper
”Why! my friend, it is de fortune of war Why you so sad?” exclailish shi+p, and then land? Fine country, but not equal to 'la belle France;' tooand rain dere”
”I don't care for the rain, or the fog, Monsieur; but I don't fancy losing lishman,”
replied the American