ring, but, laying his vessel alongside the larger of
the two transports, summoned her commander to strike.

"Ay, ay--I'll strike," was the response from the threatened vessel;
and instantly a heavy broadside was poured into the "Defence." A sharp
action followed, lasting for nearly an hour. The "Defence" bore the
brunt of the conflict, for the four schooners did not come to
sufficiently close quarters to be of much assistance against the
enemy. The gunnery of the Americans proved too much for the enemy,
however; and after losing eighteen men, together with a large number
wounded, the British surrendered. The American vessel was a good deal
cut up aloft, and lost nine of her men. The next morning a third
transport was sighted by the "Defence," and speedily overhauled and
captured. More than five hundred British soldiers were thus captured;
and the British thenceforward dared not treat the Americans as rebels,
lest the colonial army authorities should retaliate upon the British
prisoners in their hands.

It was in the year 1776 that the first naval vessel giving allegiance
to the American Colonies showed herself in European waters. This
vessel was the "Reprisal," Capt. Wickes, a small craft, mounting
sixteen guns. Early in the summer of '76, the "Reprisal" made a cruise
to Martinique, taking several prizes. When near the island, she
encountered the British sloop-of-war "Shark," and a sharp battle
ensued. In size and weight of metal, the two vessels were about evenly
matched; but the "Reprisal" had been sending out so many prize-crews,
that she was short eighty men of her full crew. Therefore, when, after
a brisk interchange of broadsides, the British sloop sheered off, and
left the "Reprisal" to continue her course, Capt. Wickes rejoiced in
his escape as being almost equal to a victory.

After completing this cruise, the "Reprisal" was ordered to France for
the purpose of conveying thither from Philadelphia Benjamin Franklin,
the ambassador sent from the Colonies to interest the French in the
cause of American liberty. While on the way over, she took two or
three prizes, which were sold in France. After landing her
distinguished passenger, she cruised about in the proverbially
tempestuous Bay of Biscay, where she forced several British vessels to
strike to the American flag, then first seen in those waters. On
returning to France to sell his newly captured prizes, Capt. Wickes
found trouble in store for him. The Britis