Part 36 (1/2)

Rayner--for such he ought now to be called--as in theforward on the look-out, and, as may be supposed, he did not allow an eye to wink Several ti above the horizon, but his irew no larger When his watch was over, he came aft into the midshi+pmen's berth, where several of his ht was drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight He, as well as others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table

They were aroused fro the ha they saere the two shi+ps they had been chasing all night directly ahead, their topsails just rising above the water Their hopes revived that they would come up with theers were a long way out of range of their bow chasers

As the sun rose and shone on their own canvas they knew that they must be clearly seen, and it was hoped that the two shi+ps would, if their captains were inclined to fight, heave to and await their co

Such, however, it was evidently the intention of the French set below and aloft

”Still they may not have the heels of us,” observed Captain Martin to the first lieutenant; ”and before they get into Cherbourg we ht that as the day advanced the wind ht increase, but in this Captain Martin was disappointed At length, towards evening, Cape La Hogue and the coast of France, to the ard of Cherbourg, appeared in sight In a few hours it was too probable that the French shi+ps would get safe into port

Remarks not over complimentary to the valour of the Frenchates, when they saw that the eneruot away froiven the,” said Toer of an encounter had passed ”Depend on it, our captain will do his best to give theh the _Thisbe_ and _Venus_ had to haul their wind, and stand off shore, a bright look-out was kept, in the hopes that the French frigates ain put to sea

Day after day passed, and at length the _Venus_ parted co across Channel when a lugger was sighted, to which she gave chase The stranger at first th seen to heave to On colish or French, but as the frigate approached she hoisted English colours and lowered a boat, which in a short ti ger He had, he said, at first taken the _Thisbe_ for a French frigate which was in the habit of co up any prizes she could fall in with, and returning nextwith them into port He had, indeed, narrowly escaped once before

This was valuable information, and Captain Martin deter the ed in particular service, the er was allowed to proceed on his way, and the _Thisbe_ stood back towards Cherbourg

The day passed, and no ene, however, a sail was seen to the northward Captain Martin iht increased, all felt confident that she was a frigate, and probably French The stranger was seen to be carrying a press of canvas, and apparently steering for Cherbourg

To re-enter that port she must encounter the _Thisbe_, on board which preparations were er, too, continuing her course, hauled her wind, and stood down Channel, as if anxious to escape Why she did so it was difficult to say, except on the possibility that she had seen another English shi+p to the northward, and was unwilling to encounter two eneeneral opinion that she was a powerful frigate, considerably larger than the _Thisbe_; but even if such were the case, Captain Martin was not the er sailed well, and there appeared every probability that she would distance the _Thisbe_, and if she wished it, get back to port without co to action

In a short time the weather becaer was lost sight of Still the _Thisbe_ continued her course, andout for the French lift, in what direction she , or she , stand across the _Thisbe's_ bows to the southward

A couple of hours passed As at any ht appear close aboard her, the _Thisbe_ prepared for immediate action The ht did not damp their appetites

The midshi+pmen had finished theirs, and Rayner, who had just relieved one of his messmates on deck, was on the look-out when he espied, away on the larboard bow, a sail through the fog, which had solance convinced hie shi+p He instantly shouted out the welcoence Every one hoped that she was the vessel they were in search of The druuns run out than the fog clearing stillunder all sail to the eastward, about half a mile away If she were the one they had before seen, she had evidently acted as Captain Martin had supposedcrossed the _Thisbe's_ course, had then kept away, hoping to get in shore of her and back to Cherbourg At once the _Thisbe_ was put about, and then stood so as to cross the stranger's bows The latter, on seeing this, hoisting French colours, rapidly shortened sail and hauled up to the northward, the two shi+ps crossing each other on contrary tacks The _Thisbe_ fired her starboard broadside, receiving one in return, and then going about, endeavoured to get to ard of her antagonist This, however, she was unable to do, and was coht with the usual courage of British sea fearful havoc on herHer three lower masts and bowsprit were in a short time wounded in several places, e was done to the th her s by a double-headed shot, and the yard-arms came down in front of the mainyard, the leech ropes of the mainsail were cut to pieces and the sail riddled All the tie, showers of bullets ca on board, and several of the men were laid low

Still Captain Martin did not attempt to escape frouns on a side, besides quarter-deck guns, and a number of men armed with muskets He hoped, by perseverance, to knock away her ht coive in

This was Rayner's first action since he had attained his present rank

He endeavoured towork to see his shi+pmates struck down on either side of him, he did not for athe sa, and blocks were falling from aloft, shot away by the hot fire of the enemy He endeavoured to keep himself cool and composed, and to execute the orders he received

Jack and Tom were employed as powder-monkeys on the maindeck, when Rayner was sent by the captain to ascertain as going on As he went along it he passed his two friends

Jack was as active as ever, handing up the powder required; poor To to strike yet, Mr Rayner?” he asked, in a ht they would have given in long ago”

”I hope they soon will have enough of it and give in, and we must blaze away at the on

Just then a shot ca just where Rayner had been standing, sending the splinters flying about in all directions He had not tiht he heard a cry as if soe to the second lieutenant

On his way back he took a glance to see how it fared with his two friends Tom was seated on his tub, but poor Jack lay stretched on deck Rayner, hastening to hi,” answered Jack to his inquiries ”It hurt me very much, and I fell, but I'll try to do my duty” How barbarous is war!

Rayner, however, saw that this was i rapidly fro one of the people appointed to attend those ere hurt, he ordered hieons he's badly wounded, and get theed to be able to go himself, but his duty coot there than he saw, to his grief, that the eneing her broadside, she raked the _Thisbe_ fore and aft In vain the latter tried to escape from her critical position; before she could do so she was a second ti shot away, the h and through