Captain Paul

essels side b

rd-arm, and the

flame and shot, 't

with blood. U

stood, 'till

o'er his head, cr

uts responded

spring he boun

ermined fo

athies naturally incline us to terra-firma, we must follow our hero for a few days in his adventurous course upon the ocean. The weather was as beautiful as it generally is on the western coast of France, at the commencement of autumn. The Indienne sailed gaily on with as fair a wind as could blow for her. The

he quarter-master, who wa

eaman who was on the lo

"Officer of the deck, be so good as to in

t that moment a wave, having raised the vessel which appeared upon the horiz

ty, springing upon the quarter deck from the cab

his speaking trumpet; "the captain wants to know

n hearing a sail announced. He replied, "She looks like a la

er had given the title of captain, "she has

ind us ready to talk to her. Besides, our guns must be

n deck, and told him that the strange ship had just set her mains

e must prepare for this fellow; he looks rather suspicious." And then calling out to

ink, by the squareness of her yards; and although I cannot see h

is promised good promotion should he succeed in capturing her. Ha! ha! now she is loosing her top gallant sails. The blood hound has scented us, and is decidedly about to

ng under her top sails, felt the influence of her top gallant sails, heeled over under this new pressure and bound

mination of this state of suspense, and we shall profit by this momentary quiet, to call the attenti

with gold shoulder knots and fastened with hooks and eyes of the same metal. Round his waist he wore a Turkish belt, in which was placed a pair of elegant duelling pistols, richly inlaid and ornamented, apparently more for show than defence. His pantaloons were of white kerseymere, with boots which reached nearly to his knees. Round his neck, a cravat of transparent India muslin, embroidered with flowers in their natural colors, was loosely tied; his hair, no longer disfigured by powder, and black as ebony, flowed about his cheeks

een determined that a combat should take place. There reigned then on board the Indienne that solemn and profound silence, which in a ship of war always precedes the decisive orders of the captain. Finally, the hull of the strange sail appeared rising out of the water, as her sails had successively done before. It was then clearly discernible that she was a larger ship than the Indie

ew flags, and let us prove to this unknown, that the Indienne has several disguises at her disposal. And then, Mr. Walter, give ord

kes piled in different positions throughout the ship, and had distributed cutlasses and axes to the ship's company, he then returned to his place by the Captain's side. Every man again resumed his post by insti

When they were about the distance of three gun shots, "Mr. Walter," said the Captain, "I think i

blue field, rose like a flame to the peak of the Indienne; but nothing on board the

e claws of the Scottish lion, that they pay no attention to him, believing that he is tamed because he is

shall I hoi

that comes; chance m

h flag was hauled down, and that of Sardinia

is brother of Cyprus and Jerusalem. Do not let us bring them to loggerheads by carrying our joke farther, Mr.

hauled down, and the stars of the United States rose sl

immediately betrayed its incognita by hoisting the British flag. At the same moment a cloud of smoke was seen issuing from the side of the royal

guessed rightly. Come, my boys," cried he, to the

iately replied, and every man ran to his post:-the gunners to their guns, the officers to their stations, and the sailors to their running rigging. As to the captain, he jumped upon the top of

from the side of the English vessel, and a report similar to loud thunder was heard, and the iron messengers sent to deal death among the rebels, having in their impetuosity, miscalculated the distance,

astonished gaze was attracted by the appearance of a new personage on the deck, who

mast, his arms folded over his chest, and looking with melancholy indifference at the English vessel which was approaching them under a heavy press of canvas. The calmness at such a moment, and in a man who appeared a stranger t

sible, the tone of his enquiry, so that it would have been difficult to a

; "but I had hoped that under the present circumstances, you would

re forbidden to hold any commun

cation with the ship's company, sir; I came to see whet

shed, if you remain where you are now standing; t

advice; or an

berty to construe

the young man, "I thank

led cries of some of the ship's company were heard. The captain, at that moment, had his eyes fixed upon the prisoner, above whose head, a cannon ball had passed within two feet, grazing the mizen mast, against which he was leaning; but notwithstanding this death warning,

be tired of remaining with your arms crossed, take up a cutlass, or an axe, and give us a helping ha

thunder, through his speaking tr

icers like an echo, at t

he captain, standing upon the companion, impatiently awaited its clearing off, that he might ascertain the effect which the broadside had produced upon the enemy's vessel. When his gaze could penetrate through the smoke, he pe

too busy in clearing away the wreck of their mast, to thi

nemy, they were discharged with terrible effect; and, as the captain had imagined, without any hindrance from

been done, which it was impossible to ascertain at that distance; for some time, the broadside was not returned; at length it was, and instead of raking the Indienne, it struck her in a diagonal direction. It was not the less terrible, for it swept off many a brave fellow from the deck; but by a chance

r on the larboard side! Boarders, to your st

execute it, a dreadful crash was heard on board her, and the mainmast, which had been nearly cut through by the last discharge from the Indienne, trembled, for a few seconds

have only to take her. One last broadside w

ersary, who by remaining at a distance and playing at long bowls, might have riddled her and sunk her, but disdaining this too easy victory, sent in a last broadside; and then, before seeing the effect it had produced, the frigate ran in upon her

prit to her quarter rails. Well done! now

ron chains-the two carronades which had not been fired during the combat, thundered in there turn, and swept th

board

er use, placed his helmet on his head, fastening the clasp beneath his chin; placed the sabre which he usual

ning, he was only the second upon the English deck: he was preceded by the young prisoner with whom he had conv

aughing; "it is my place to be the first to board a ship I am attacki

deck like ripe fruit falling from a tree when shaken by the wind. Then the English, who had retreated to their forecastle, unmasked a carronade which they had had time to turn upon their enemy. A volley of fire and iron was v

d-all o

each other's sculls; it was with cutlasses they wounded each other's breasts; it was with boarding-pikes that they nailed each other to the deck and masts. From time to time, in the midst of this mute carnage, a stray pistol shot was heard, but isolated, and as if ashamed of taking part in such a butchery. It lasted nearly a quarter of an hour, and amidst a confusion it would be impossible to describe. And then the British flag

ing out his hand; "and he who strikes

ow it was that you were made my prisoner, will you not! For there must be some cowardly machination