s, however, soon solved. The third mate, with about half a
dozen men, had been left on board of her; and the provident and gallant
young fellow had, whilst the Frenchmen were so pre-occupied in preparing
to resist the threatened attack of the boat, contrived to pass,
unobserved, overboard from the bows, a spare-sail loaded with shot, that
effectually had checked the ship's way. Had the Frenchmen turned their
attention to that part of the vessel, without they had examined
narrowly, they would have perceived nothing more than a rope towing
overboard. He certainly ought to have shared with us prize-money for
the recapture; but after all, he sustained no great loss by not having
his name down on the prize-list, as nobody but the captain ever got
anything for what we did that day. He, lucky dog, got his share in
advance, many said much more, for appointing the Messrs. Isaiahsons and
Co as our agents. They got the money, and then, as the possession of
much cash (of other people's) is very impoverishing, they became
bankrupts, paid nothing-farthing in the pound, were very much
commiserated, and the last that we heard of them was, that they were
living like princes in America, upon the miserable wreck of their (own?)
property.

We made, of course, most anxious and most minute inquiries of Messieurs
les Francois, as to the class of vessel to which they belonged, and
which we were in turn preparing to pursue. As might be expected, we got
from them nothing but contradictory reports; but they all agreed in
giving us the most conscientious and disinterested advice, not to think
of irritating her, as we should most certainly be blown out of the
water. We read this backwards. If she were strong enough to take us,
it was their interest that we should engage her, and thus their
liberation would be effected.

As it was, notwithstanding these many occurrences, only eight a.m. when
we made the re-capture, and as the convoy were all still in sight, we
only put six men in the _Prince William_ which, in addition to the
English still on board, were sufficient to take her to the _Curlew_,
near which vessel the merchantmen had all nestled, and orders were
transmitted to her commanding officer to see that men enough were put on
board the re-capture to insure her safety.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

RALPH MAKETH ACQUAINTANCE WITH BLOODY INSTRUMENTS, AND BOWETH TO THE
IRON MESSENGERS OF DEATH; AND IS TAUGHT TO STAND FIRE, BY BEING NEARLY
K