The Glenwood post., 1909-04-17

deck battery, and our sails and rigging
soon were so cut up that when we
came foul, few minutes later, We
were jammed fast; but nobody on
either ship wished it otherwise. The
Frenchman's main-yard swung d.
rectly over our poop, and Capt. Gull
ford himself made 1t fast to our miz-
zen rigging. The Frenchman, how
ever, was not yet beaten at the guns
and the firing was so heavy on both
sides that pail of smoke enveloped
both ships. This was to our advan-
tage, for the frigate, having got some
sail on the stump of her mizzenmast
now approached; but the wind drifted
the smoke so between her and the two
fighting ships, that she could not in
the dim twilight plainly discern friend
from foe, especially as both were
painted black, and we swung together
with the sea and wind. When the
smoke drifted on the gallant but un.
fortunate Xantippe found herself di.
rectly under our broadside. We gave
her one round from our main battery,
and she troubled us no more.
OF my own feelings, I can only say
that welcomed the return of my cour-
age so rapturously. I felt capable of
heroic things. Occasionally 1 recog.
nized Sir Peter as he fitted past; he
seemed everywhere at once, and
perceived that although Capt. Gull
ford was technically fighting the ship,
Sir Peter was by no means an idle
spectator. My gun was on the en-.
gagged side all the time. and several
of the guns on that side became dis
abled, and officers were wounded or
killed. it brought Giles Vernon quite
close to me. Through the smoke and
the fast-falling darkness, lighted only
by the red flash of the guns and the
glare Of the battle lanterns, could
see his face He never lost his smile,
and his ringing voice always led the
cheering.
Presently the Frenchman's fire
slackened, and then dull, rumbling
sound was heard in the depths Of the
1ndomptable, followed by a roar and
streams of light from the forehatch.
The forward magazine had exploded,
and it seemed in the awful crash and
blaze as If all the masts and spars
went skyward, with the rags OF the
sails; and solemn hush and silence
followed the explosion.
In another instant I heard Sir
Peters sharp voice shouting:
Call all hands to board! Boatswain,
cheer the men up with the pipe!"
And then the clear notes of the boat
swains pipe floated out into the dark
| With ho Oathoro6
at the bulwarks. On the French ship
they appeared to be dazed by the ex-
plosion, and we could see only a few
officers running about and trying to
collect the men.
In another instant I saw Mr.. Bux-
ton leap upon the Misunderstanding
and about to spring, when figure be-
hind him seized him by the coat-tails
and, dragging him backward, he meas
ured his length on the deck. The fig
ure was Giles Vernon.
After me-" he cried to the first
lieutenant; and the next moment he
made his spring, and landed. the first
man on the Indomptable's deck.
AS soon as the ship was given up,
We hauled up our courses and ran of
little, rove new braces, and made
ready to capture the frigate, which, al.
though badly cut up, showed no dispo
sition to surrender, and stood gallant.
ly by her consort. In half an hour we
were ready to go into action again. II
necessary, with another ship Of the
line
We got within range-the sea had
gone down much-and giving the
Xantippe our broadside, brought down
the tricolor which the Frenchmen had
nailed to the stump Of the mizzen.
mast. She proved to have on board
near a million sterling, which, with
the Indomptable, was the richest prize
taken in for years preceding.
The admiral and captain got ELL
900 sterling each. The senior officers
received 92.5O0 sterling each. The
juniors got $4,000 sterling, the mid
shipmen and petty officers E1,500
sterling. and every seaman got f700
sterling, and the landsmen and boys
f400 sterling in prize money. And
more in glory; for the two French
ships were not only beaten. but beaten
in the most seamanlike manner. Sir
Peter ever after kept the anniversary
as his day of glory, putting on the
same uniform and cooked hat he, had
worn, and going to church, If on shore,
with Lady Hawkshaw on his arm. and
giving thanks in loud voice.
(TO BE CONTINUED)