CHAPTER XII.

Punishment interrupted-Preparations for action-Beat off the enemy-A confession-I am proved to be innocent--Capture two prizes-Ordered home in one of them-Deserted by our consort-Spring a leak-Mutiny of prisoners.

"STRIP," said the captain.

I prepared to lay my shoulders bare to receive the

lash.

"The Indiamen to windward are signalling to us, sir," shouted the signal midshipman, turning over the pages of the signal-book. "An enemy in sight on the weather beam."

"Master-at-arms, take charge of the prisoner; punishment is deferred," cried the captain, springing on to the poop.

I was led below. I almost wished that the punishment was over. I had nerved myself up to bear it, dreadful as it was, without flinching. Now, I knew not for how long it might be postponed, but I had no hopes of escaping it altogether. In another minute, the stirring cry of "Prepare ship for action!" was passed along the decks. Every one in a moment was full of activity. The cabin bulkheads were knocked away, fire-screens were put up, the doors of the magazine

were thrown open, and powder and shot were being handed up on deck. For some time I was left alone, with a sentry only stationed over me. I longed to be set free. I trusted that I was not to remain a prisoner during the action which I saw it was expected was about to take place. I thought that if I could but send a message to the captain, and entreat that I might be allowed to do my duty at my gun, he would liberate me while the action lasted. For a long time, not an officer came near me. At length, to my great satisfaction, I saw Dr. M'Call. see that all proper preparations had been made in the space devoted to his service on the reception of the wounded.

He was on

his way to

orlop deck, for the

"Dr. M'Call," I cried out to him. "I would not have ventured to have spoken to you, situated as I now am, under any other circumstances, but I have a great favour to ask of you, sir." He stopped and listened. "I need not say that I trust you do not believe me guilty, and I would entreat you to go to the captain and to ask him to allow me to return to my duty during the action. Tell him only what you think of me, and he will, I am sure, give me my freedom till the fight is over. I do not wish to avoid punishment, but it would be a double one to remain manacled here while my shipmates are fighting the enemy."

"I'll go," said the doctor, who had quietly listened to all I said. "I do not believe you guilty. There is little time to lose, though."

How anxiously I awaited the result of my petition. Every moment I expected to hear the first shot fired and to find that the action had begun. About three minutes passed. I fancied six times the period had

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265

elapsed, when a master's mate and two men came below.

"The captain gives you leave, Weatherhelm, to return to your duty," said the officer. "He hopes that you will show you are worthy of the favour."

"Indeed I will, sir," I answered, as the men knocked the handcuffs off my wrists.

"We've a tough job in hand, depend on that." "Thank you, sir, thank you," I exclaimed, as I sprang to my feet and followed my liberators to the upper deck, where the sentry joined his comrades.

The moment I reached the deck I looked out for the enemy. Just out of gun-shot appeared a seventyfour gun-ship and two frigates. They were firing away at the Indiamen, which were still within range of their guns. The greater number were, however, clustering together, and standing down to leeward of us, so that those nearer the Frenchmen were not idle, and were bravely returning shot for shot. The three ships came on, the Frenchmen little doubting that we should continue on the same course we were then holding; but our captain was determined to get the weather gauge, and just as their shot came aboard us, he tacked, and stood to the northward, which brought the two frigates nearer to us than the line-of-battleship. One of them bravely stood on till she got close under our guns. The order was given to fire. Our shot took the most deadly effect on her, and she completely heeled over as our whole broadside went crushing in through her decks and sides. Of the three hundred men or more, who an instant before stood up full of life and strength, full fifty must have been struck down, many never to rise again, while her spars and

rigging went tumbling down in terrible confusion over her deck. Again we tacked, and this brought our starboard broadside to bear on the second frigate. While we were especially engaged with the first, she had fired two or three broadsides at us, and as we tacked she managed to rake us, to our no little damage. The success attending our first effort inspirited us to give due effect to the second. Every shot we fired seemed to tell. Besides numbers of men killed and wounded, the foremast of the frigate came toppling down on her deck almost before the smoke which hung around us had cleared away. Seldom had greater execution been effected in so short a time, but our ship was thoroughly well manned, and every one of us had been well trained at our guns. We knew what we were about, and had strength to do it. Leaving the two frigates almost helpless, we stood on to meet our larger opponent. With her, to all appearances, we were thoroughly well matched. While we had been. engaged with the frigates she had somewhat severely handled some of the Indiamen. She had now, however, to look after herself. Our captain, as soon as we got clear of the frigates, signalled to the Indiamen to go and attack them. This he did in the hopes that they would be prevented from repairing damages and be enabled to escape. The Indiamen to leeward, in the most spirited way, instantly began to beat up towards the frigates. We had not escaped altogether free of harm. Though no material damage had been done to the ship, we had already several men killed and wounded by the shot from our two first autagonists. As we closed with the line-ofbattle ship she opened fire on us. We soon found that

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267

we had an opponent which would require all our strength and perseverance to overcome, but every man stood to his gun, as British seamen always will stand when well commanded, however great may be the odds against them. We passed each other on opposite tacks as she stood on towards the frigates. As our guns were brought to bear we discharged them into each other's sides. We all cheered loudly and heartily as we saw the effect of our shot, but the enemy were not idle. The shot from their broadside came crashing on board us with fearful effect, while the marines in the tops, and poop, and forecastle, kept up a heavy fire of musketry. Blocks and spars came tumbling down from aloft; splinters were flying in every direction; round shot were whizzing through the ports and across the decks, the smoke from the guns hung over us in dense masses, obscuring the sky and scarcely enabling us to see from one side of the ship to the other. Many a poor fellow sunk to rise no more; numbers were sorely wounded; the heads of some, the arms and legs of others, were shot away; groans and shrieks arose from those who were struck, while the rest of the crew uttered shouts of defiance and anger. All of us were stripped to the waist, begrimed with smoke, and often sprinkled with our own blood or that of our comrades; our handkerchiefs bound round our heads, and our countenances with the muscles strained to the utmost, and exhibiting the fierce passions which animated our hearts. Yet, though I have attempted to describe the scene, no words can do adequate justice to its savage wildness. I felt, I doubt not, like the rest. In a moment all recollection of the past vanished, I thought only of punishing the foe; of gaining the