rs could sail round and round us. As
night comes on I intend to shorten sail, and put the ship into
fighting trim. In the morning I shall again increase it, but I shall
not make any attempt to escape a combat which it depends entirely on
those privateers to bring on, or not, as they choose. I am sorry that
Mrs. Ashmead should be exposed to the unpleasantness of listening to
the explosion of firearms, and that my other lady passengers should be
exposed to the danger which cannot but arise, more or less, from a
naval conflict.

"However, I hope, sir, that there need be no great anxiety as to the
result. The Company has given us a heavy armament, and you may be sure
that we shall all do our best."

Seeing the gentlemen go below for their guns, Charlie asked one of the
other young writers, a lad of about his own age, named Peters, with
whom he had become very friendly, to go below with him. He had not yet
examined the arms that his uncle had given him, for he had not thought
of them since he saw the gun cases under his berth, on his first
arrival on board ship. He found the doctor already in his cabin,
putting together a heavy double-barrelled gun.

"Well, youngster," he said, "so we're likely to have a brush. I see
you have a couple of gun cases under your berth. You are a good deal
better provided than most lads who go out as writers.

"Ah! That's a beautiful piece of yours," he said, as Charlie unlocked
one of the cases and took out a rifle, "a small bore and a heavy
barrel, and beautifully finished. With a greased patch and a heavy
charge, that ought to carry a bullet far and true. Have you had any
practice?"

"Not with this gun, sir. I used, sometimes, to practise shooting at
gulls with a musket, on board the cutter my father commanded; and I
got to be a fair shot with it."

"Then you ought to be able to do good work, with such a piece as that.
What is in the other case?

"Ah! That's a beauty, too," he said, as he examined the
double-barrelled gun. "Made extra strong and heavy, I see, so as to
carry bullets. You'll find your shoulder ache, at first; but you'll
get accustomed to it, in time. I'm always in favour of heavy barrels.
They shoot stronger and straighter than your light guns, are not so
liable to get bent or bruised, if a stupid servant drops one across a
stone; and, after all, two or three pounds difference in weight does
not make any material difference, when you're accustomed to it.
Although, I gr