The Glenwood post., 1909-04-17
$chAPTER discontinued.

ed oy pretty Lady Arabella.
-. CHAPTER discontinued.
The Frenchmen thought they had
us We heard afterward that prize
crew was already told off to take us
into Gorunna, but no man or boy on
the Ajax dreamed of giving up the
ship.
The Ajax was cleared for action in
eleven minutes; and, with four ensigns
flying. we headed for the ship of the
hhe, which was waiting for us, with
her topsails shivering. The Ajax had
been, lately coppered. and. with all
sail te royals set, legged it at a lively
gait, in spite of the heavy sea, which
occasionally caused our lower-deck
guns to roll their noses in the water.
AS we wallowed toward the ship of
the line, which was the Indomptable,
the frigate, the Xantippe, was maneuv-
ering for a position on our starboard
quarter to rake us. Seeing this, the
Ajax Game up little into the wind,
whichsbrought our broadside to bear
directly on the Xantippe, and she
hedsed on little
The steadiness, GOODNESS, and pre-
cision with which the ship was han
~died astonished my young mind.
aew very well that II we were de-
feated..Sir Peter Hawkshaw would
stand no show of leniency, for there
Has no doubt that owing to our new
copper, we could easily have outsailed
the Frenchmen; but Sir Peter pre-
ferred to Outright them, even against
desperate odds.
The officers and men had entire con-
fidence in Sir Peter and in the ship,
and went into action with the hearth
e1St goodwill Imaginable. The people
were amused by two powder monkeys
coming to blows in the magazine
passage over which one would be en-
titled to the larger share of prize
Money. The gayety OF the men was
eentagious. Every mans face wore a
grin; and when the word was given to
take in the royals, and send down the
yards, furl all staysails and the flying
1tb, they literally rushed into the rig
Etng with an AYE, aye. SIR" that
Seemed to shake the deck.
4 fThe admiral, who had been on the
bridge, left 1t and went below. Pres
emily he came up. He was in his best
uniform, with gold-hilted sword. his
order Of the Bath on his breast. and
he wore a cooked hat. AS he passed
me, Mr.. Buxton, who was stepping
along briskly, said:
Pardon me, Sir Peter, but French
nusket wants no better target than
4 cooked hat"
:, Sir" replied Sir Peter, Il have al
: ways fought in a cooked hat and silk
atookiRgs, as becomes a gentleman; !;
and l. shall always fight in a cooked
nat and silk stockings, damme."
Mr.. Buxton passed on, laughing.
Now, l had taken the opportunity,
after we had sighted the Frenchman,
to run below and put on my newest
uniform, with silk stockings, and to
get out several cambric pocket hand
kerchiefs; and had also scented my
self literally with some altar of rose,
which l had bought in Portsmouth.
Sir Peter. putting his fingers to his
nose, shifted the altar of rose, and,
speedily identifying me. he surveyed
me calmly all over. while blushed
and found myself unable to stand still
under .his searching gaze. When he
spekS, however, it was in words of
praise.
Nephew, you have the right idea.
1t ia a holiday when we meet the enc
my, and officers should dress accord
inglyr
Mr. Buxton, who was standing near.
sneaked of little. He had on an
old coat such as l had never seen
him wear, and had removed his stock
and tied red silk handkerchief
around his neck. He certainly did not
look quite the gentleman. The In
domptable. being then about half a
mile distant, bore up and fired shot
to windward, which was an invitation
to come on and take licking or give
one. The Ajax was not misled into
the rashness Of coming on, with the
xantippe hanging on her quarter, but
lufiing up suddenly-for she answered
her helm beautifully-she brought the
frigate directly under her guns; and
that fetched the Indomptable as fast
rs she could trot. The Ajax opened
Nhe bail with one Of her long twenty
Tours, Sir Peter himself sighting apH