"On the third night after we sailed, the breeze, which had set in at
sunset, increased considerably, and a heavy sea rolled in from the
westward. Now, although the weather was not such as to endanger the
safety of a good ship with an able crew, yet was it by no means a
matter of indifference in an old rotten craft like the 'Northumberland,'
condemned half a dozen years before, and barely able to make her voyage
in light winds and fine weather. Our skipper knew this well, and I
could see by the agitation of his features, and the altered tones of
his voice, how little he liked the freshening gale, and the low moaning
sound that swept along the sea, and threatened a storm. The pumps had
been at work for some hours, and it was clear that the most we could do,
was to keep the water from gaining on us. A chance observation of
mine had attracted the skipper's attention, and after a few minutes'
conversation he saw that I was a seaman, not only better informed, but
more habituated to danger than himself; he was, therefore, glad to take
counsel from me, and at my suggestion a spare sail was bent, and passed
under the ship's bottom, which soon succeeded in arresting the progress
of the leak, and, at the same time, assisted the vessel's sailing.
Meanwhile the storm was increasing, and it now blew what the sailors
call 'great guns.'

"We were staggering along under light canvas, when the look-out-a-head
announced a light on the weather-bow; it was evidently coming towards
us, and scarce half a mile distant; we had no more than time to hang
out a lantern in the tops and put up the helm, when a large ship, whose
sides rose several feet above our own, swept by us, and so close, that
her yard-arms actually touched our rigging as she yawed over in the
sea. A muttered thanksgiving for our escape, for such it was, broke
from every lip; and hardly was it uttered, when again a voice cried
out, 'here she comes to leeward,' and sure enough the dark shadow of the
large mass moving at a speed far greater than ours, passed under our
lee, while a harsh summons was shouted out to know who we were, and
whither bound. The 'Northumberland.' with troops, was the answer; and
before the words were well out, a banging noise was heard--the ports of
the stranger ship were flung open, a bright flash, like a line of flame,
ran her entire length, and a raking broadside was poured into us.
The old transport reeled over and trembled like a thing of life,--her