h would be most disastrous
to us, and I began to feel very anxious, when I heard a bugle sounded
from the largest French boat. This was the signal to advance, and I was
very glad, as the affair would now be soon decided.

As all our boats were secured on the starboard side of the vessel, the
Frenchmen did not attempt to board on that side, as in so doing it would
have been at a double disadvantage; they had therefore no alternative
but to board all together on the larboard side. Two of the boats' guns
had been fixed on that side--double shotted and depressed, so as to be
fired at the moment one of the boats should pass beneath them; they were
both fired at the leading boat, the launch, which was very large and
full of men, and the shot went through her bottom. This did not prevent
her coming alongside: but she filled and sank almost immediately
afterwards, while the men were climbing up the sides of the vessel. The
sinking of this boat prevented the men of the other boats outside of her
from supporting their companions, and we had therefore only to meet the
force of the launch and the two other boats which had come alongside
ahead of her, and which was in number not equal to our own.

We always had an idea that the French would never do much in the way of
boarding, and so it proved; they were beat down as fast as they made
their appearance above the bulwarks. The French lieutenant was
attempting to get over the gunwale; he was unsupported, as almost all
his men had tumbled back into the sea. Instead of cutting him down, I
caught him by the collar, and hauled him on board, and as soon as he was
disarmed, gave him in charge of a marine. In ten minutes all was over:
two of the French boats remained alongside, and the others shoved off,
half manned, and dropped astern. We gave them three cheers as a parting
salutation, but we had no time to lose--the wind was evidently springing
up fast; already cat's paws were to be seen here and there rippling the
water, and the line on the horizon was now dark and broad. I ordered
our boats to be ready for starting, the guns to be got in, and the
wounded men divided among them as fast as possible. The two large
French boats which remained on the starboard side we cleared of the men
who lay in them, and then had their bottoms beat out to sink them. The
French lieutenant and two other officers I ordered into our own boats,
to take on board as prisoners; the rest of the French wh