cks that not a gun should be fired till
the captain gave the word. The boys had not forgotten their fight a few
weeks before, and had an idea that this was to turn out something like
that. Then the shot of the enemy had passed between the masts and the
rigging; but scarcely one had struck the hull, nor had a man been hurt,
so they had begun to fancy that fighting was a very bloodless affair.

"What shall we do with the prisoners, if we take her, I wonder?" asked
Tom. "We've got Monsieurs enough on board already."

"I daresay the captain will know what to do with them," responded Bill.

"We must not count our chickens before they're hatched," said Jack.
"Howsumdever, we'll do our best." Jack's remark, which was heard by
some of the crew of the gun near which he was seated, caused a laugh.

"What do you call your best, Jack?" asked Ned Green.

"Sitting on my tub, and handing out the powder as you want it," answered
Jack. "What more would you have me do, I should like to know?"

"Well said, Jack," observed Green. "We'll work our guns as fast as we
can, and you'll hand out the powder as we want it."

The talking was cut short by the voices of the officers ordering the men
to be ready for action.

The crews of the guns laid hold of the tackles, while the captains stood
with the lanyards in their hands, waiting for the word of command, and
ready at a moment's notice to fire.

The big ship got nearer and nearer. She could now be seen through the
ports on the starboard side.

"Well, but she's a whopper!" exclaimed Ned Green, "though I hope we'll
whop her, notwithstanding. Now, boys, we'll show the Monsieurs what we
can do."

Just then came the word along the decks--

"Fire!"

And the guns on the starboard side, with a loud roar, sent forth their
missiles of death.

While the crew were running them in to re-load, the enemy fired in
return; their shot came crashing against the sides, some sweeping the
upper deck, others making their way through the ports.

The smoke from the guns curled round in thick eddies, through which
objects could be but dimly seen.

The boys looked at each other. All of them were seated on their tubs,
but they could see several forms stretched on the deck, some
convulsively moving their limbs, others stilled in death.

This was likely to be a very different affair from the former action.

Having handed out the powder, Jack, Tom, and Bill returned to their
places once more.