and the whole air seemed filled with fragments of
wreck, which came hissing down into the water, several portions,
whizzing through the air, reaching almost to where we lay. The other
two, seeing the hopelessness of further resistance, after firing their
broadsides, hauled down their colours. On this the _Buckingham_ made a
signal to us to take possession of the two vessels. `Out boats!' was
the order; and in another minute three of our boats, I having charge of
one of them, were dashing through the calm water, while the _Buckingham_
continued engaging the fort, which still held out. Two or three of its
guns, however, had been disabled, and its fire began to slacken. We
pulled away as fast as the crews could lay their backs to the oars,
fearing that the Frenchmen would set fire to the ships and deprive us of
our prizes. Their boats were already in the water, and the men were
tumbling into them, evidently in a hurry to make their escape. `Look
out, lads; that the rascals play no tricks, and lose no time in seeing
that all's safe below!' sang out Mr Foley, as he dashed by in the gig
towards the northernmost of the vessels. I was making for the one to
the southward, the farthest from the fort. We were soon up to her, and
as we scrambled up on one side we saw several of her crew toppling over
on the other. Just then I caught sight of a man coming up the
companion-hatchway; it struck me that he had been about some mischief,
and leaping on him, I tumbled him down to the foot of the ladder. He
had a slow-match in his hand, which, hissing and spluttering, set his
clothes on fire.

"`What have you been about, you rascal?' I exclaimed, though I don't
suppose he understood the question. He pointed to the door of a cabin
from which smoke was issuing. I burst it open, and found a match
lighted, leading to a suspicious-looking cask in the corner. I, as you
may suppose, pulled it out in pretty quick time; and, throwing it into
the middle of the main cabin, sang out for buckets of water. A couple
were quickly handed down, and the fire was extinguished. In another
moment, however, we should all have been blown into the air. The
Frenchman, who proved to be the mate of the vessel, was severely burnt,
but little compassion was felt for him. We secured him, and two other
men, who were caught by the legs as they were leaping overboard.

"Our men had begun to fire at the boats which had shoved off, but I
ordered them to d