r me before now, and
though the odds were against us, we licked the enemy. We have got
somewhat greater odds, perhaps, at present, but I want to take two or
three of those ships; they are not quite as powerful as they look, and
if you will work your guns as I know you can work them, we'll do it
before many hours have passed. We have a fine breeze to help us, and
will tackle one after the other. You'll support me, I know."

Three loud cheers were given as a response to this appeal, and the men
went back to their guns, where they stood stripped to their waists, with
handkerchiefs bound round their heads.

Notwithstanding the formidable array of the enemy, the frigate kept
bearing down under plain sail towards them.

Our heroes, sitting on their tubs, could see but very little of what was
going forward, though now and then they got a glimpse of the enemy
through the ports; but they heard the remarks made by the men in their
neighbourhood, who were allowed to talk till the time for action had
arrived.

"Our skipper knows what he's about, but that chap ahead of the rest is a
monster, and looks big enough to tackle us without the help of the
others," observed one of the crew of the gun nearest to which Tom was
seated.

"What's the odds if she carries twice as many teeth as we have! we'll
work ours twice as fast, and beat her before the frigates can come up to
grin at us," answered Ned Green, the captain of the gun.

Tom did not quite like the remarks he heard. There was going to be a
sharp fight, of that there could be no doubt, and round shot would soon
be coming in through the sides, and taking off men's heads and legs and
arms. It struck him that he would have been safer at school. He
thought of his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, who, if he
was killed, would never know what had become of him; not that Tom was a
coward, but it was somewhat trying to the courage even of older hands,
thus standing on slowly towards the enemy. When the fighting had once
begun, Tom was likely to prove as brave as anybody else; at all events,
he would have no time for thinking, and it is that which tries most
people.

The captain and most of the officers were on the quarter-deck, keeping
their glasses on the enemy.

"The leading ship under French colours appears to me to carry sixty-four
guns," observed the first lieutenant to the captain; "and the next, also
a Frenchmen, looks like a thirty-six gun frigate. The b