which, propelled by the long, swinging strokes of man-o'-war oarsmen,
bore down rapidly upon her. Capt. Southcomb of the "Lottery" was an
American sailor, who had smelt powder before; and he had no idea of
yielding up his ship without a struggle. The formidable force sent
against him merely moved him to more desperate resistance. When the
boats came within range, the guns of the "Lottery" opened upon them
with a hail of grape and round shot. Still the assailants pressed on,
and soon came beneath the schooner's lee. Dropping their oars, the
plucky British tars sprang into the chains, swarmed up the bobstay and
over the bow, and used each other's backs as ladders to aid them to
reach the schooner's deck. The little crew of privateersmen fought
viciously, guarding the side with cutlasses and pistols, hurling the
boarders back into the sea, or cutting them down as they reached the
deck. Cold shot and kentledge were dashed upon the boats, in the hopes
of sinking them; while the carronades poured a destructive fire upon
such boats as could be reached by their shot. But the conflict was too
unequal to last long. The English sailors swarmed over the gunwale on
all sides, and, cheering lustily, drove the small remnant of defenders
below. Capt. Southcomb was cut down, and lay mortally wounded upon the
deck when the enemy took possession of the ship. When the victors came
to look about the captured vessel, they found such proofs of a
desperate resistance, that their admiration was open and pronounced.
Five only of the schooner's crew were unhurt, while the British paid
for their success with the loss of thirteen men. Capt. Southcomb, in a
dying condition, was taken aboard the frigate "Belvidera," where he
received the tenderest treatment, and was shown marked respect on
account of his bravery.

[Illustration: Awaiting The Boarders.]

In the next encounter between the blockaders and a privateer, the
British bore away the palm for gallantry. This time the privateersmen
had every advantage, while the British carried the day by pure
courage. The captured vessels were the privateer schooner "Dolphin,"
of twelve guns, and the letters-of-marque "Racer," "Arab," and "Lynx,"
of six guns each. The crews of the four vessels aggregated one hundred
and sixty men. Against this force came five boats manned by one
hundred and five British sailors, who pulled fifteen miles in order to
attack their foes. Wearied though they were by the long pull,