rteen sail of the line, held well together for the
Texel, picking up one or two fresh consorts during the day, and beating
about now and again in expectation of news of the longed-for enemy. We
saw nothing but a few merchantmen; and the admiral was beginning to fear
that, after all, the Dutchmen had given us the slip, and made off to
join forces with the French fleet at Brest, when an armed lugger, flying
a signal, hove in sight, and reported that the Dutch admiral was only a
few leagues away to the south.

The joy on board was indescribable; and as night closed in, and we stood
out on the starboard tack, the certainty that daybreak would discover
the enemy was almost as great a cause for jubilation as if we had
already won our victory.

Eager as we were, however, the admiral ordered all of us who were not on
the watch below, charging us to get sleep while we could, and lay
provender on board, for we had hungry work before us.

The first lieutenant called me to him as I was turning in.

"Mr Gallagher," he said, "I have only just had time to go over the
names of the last comers in the ship's books. I see you hold rank as a
warrant-officer."

"I was boatswain to the _Zebra_, sir," said I.

"So I see. It does you credit that you have worked so cheerfully at the
first work that came to hand. But to-morrow we shall want our best men
at their right posts. The _Venerable_ has a boatswain already; but
Captain Fairfax has ordered me to look up double hands for the helm. Be
good enough to report yourself to the sailing-master at daybreak. We
have our work cut out for us, I fancy, and much will depend on the
smartness with which the admiral's signals are read and his ship
handled. So you may take the duty as a compliment, Mr Gallagher; and
good-night to you."

I turned in that night still better pleased with the service than ever.

At daybreak, as we came on deck, the first thing we spied to leeward was
some of our own ships bearing down on us with signals flying of an enemy
in sight; and not long after, the line of the enemy's fleet, straggling
northeast and south-west, came into sight, hauled to the wind and
evidently awaiting us. We counted over twenty of them; and with the
additions that had joined us in the night, we were just as many.

The sea was rolling heavily, and a good many of our ships were lagging.
So, as we were already near enough to the Dutch side, the admiral
ordered sails to be shortened till