ng rapidly
on the chase, and of course the captain was unwilling to shorten sail.
Stays and braces grew tauter and tauter, studden sail-booms cracked, and
the topgallant masts bent like willow wands.

"We are going to get it," observed the captain of the top.

He was right. Away flew the main-topgallant studden sail; the topmast
studden sail followed. At the same moment, the foremost guns with a
loud roar sent a couple of shot after the chase. It was getting dark,
but I felt sure that one had struck her counter. Still she held on, and
we continued in chase, she carrying as much sail as she could stagger
under.

"We shall carry the masts out of the ship if we don't look sharp,"
observed the captain of the top. The yards cracked more than ever.
"All hands shorten sail," cried the captain from the deck. "In with the
studden sails!"

When the men went out on the fore-yard, I, to show my activity and
daring to my messmate Grey, went out also. The frigate had begun to
pitch and roll a little. By some means I lost my hold, and should have
fallen on deck and been killed, had she not rolled at the moment to
starboard, and sent me flying overboard.

"There goes poor Marmaduke Merry," shouted Grey.

I was plunged under the water, but quickly rose to see the frigate
flying by me. As she passed, something was thrown from the deck, and
the next instant I observed, I fancied, some one leap from the mizen
chains. I did not for a moment suppose that I was going to be drowned,
but how I was to be saved I could not divine. I swam on till I got hold
of a grating which had been thrown to me, and had not long seated myself
on it when I heard a voice sing out--

"All right, Master Marmaduke; I said I'd go wherever you did, but to my
mind now it would have been better to have stayed on board."

It was Toby, and after I had helped him up alongside me, I assured him
that I agreed with his remark, but that I could not help it. I looked
anxiously for the frigate. Her mighty form could only just be
distinguished through the gloom, and the lugger could nowhere be seen.

"This isn't pleasant," said I. "But keep up your spirits, Toby, I
suppose the frigate will turn to look for us, and if not, we must hold
on till the morning, when I hope we may be picked up by some ship or
other."

"Ne'er fear, Master Marmaduke," answered Toby. "If you think it's all
right, I'm happy."

I certainly did not think it all right, for in a sho