strange tale," said Philip, "and you have had
some extraordinary escapes. You must have a charmed life, and you
appear to have been preserved to prove that Amy's persuasion of your
being still alive was just and well-founded; and now it is my turn to
talk, and yours to listen. When I left you as lieutenant of Captain
Levee's schooner, we very shortly afterwards had an action with a
Spanish vessel of very superior force, for she mounted thirty guns.
Having no chance with her, from her superior weight of metal, we threw
ourselves on her bow and boarded. The Spaniards did not relish this
kind of close fighting, and gave us immediate possession of their deck.
Captain Levee, when he brought in his prize, was appointed to a frigate
of thirty-six guns, and I followed him as his first-lieutenant. We had
another combat with a vessel of equal force, in which we were the
victors, and I was sent in the prize. Captain Levee wrote very kindly
in my behalf and I was made a captain, and given the command of a small
brig. But let me first finish with Captain Levee. He captured a
galleon, which gave him a large fortune, and he then gave up the command
of his ship, and went on shore, telling me in a letter that he had
hitherto squandered away all his money, but now that he had got so much,
he intended to keep it. He has done so, for he has purchased a large
landed property, is married, and, I believe, is very happy."

"He deserves it," replied I; "and long may he be so."

"Well, to continue. I was sent out on this station, and, having
information that the vessel which you are now on board of was at anchor
in a bay close to the Havannah, I ran in and reconnoitred. She hoisted
Spanish colours, and I did the same. It fell calm, and I lay about four
miles outside. I was mistaken for another Spanish vessel, and the
captain of this vessel, or, to speak correctly, the Spanish captain of
the Spanish brig, came out to see me, and did not discover his mistake
till he was on board. I detained him and his boat's crew. It continued
calm till the evening, when the breeze sprung up, and I put the head of
the brig right for the bay, as if I were going to anchor. The breeze
being light, it was dark before I got in and alongside this vessel.
They were completely surprised, for they imagined that their captain was
dining with his old friend, and, having no idea that we were anything
but Spanish, had not the least preparation for resistance.