h ship had the first of it; she
rapidly gained upon us, and in an hour and a half was about three miles
from us. We had now shoaled our water to three fathoms and a half,
which was quite near enough to the ground, as it left but four feet
between our keel and the bottom; the studding-sails were taken in, and
we ranged the cable. A few minutes afterwards the French line-of-battle
ship was seen to shorten sail, and haul to the wind; she had followed us
into as shoal water as far as she dared to venture in, and as she
rounded to, out of spite, I presume, she fired a gun. The evening was
now closing in, and as there was every appearance of fine weather, we
stood out till we were again in four fathoms, and then dropped our
anchor.

The next morning, when the day broke, the French line-of-battle ship was
in the offing about eight miles distant. It may easily be imagined that
the French were very much annoyed at what had taken place; their prizes
re-captured, three boats lost, and their ship's company weakened, and
all by an inferior force close to them, and without any prospect of
their having any revenge. But we, on the other hand, were not very
pleasantly situated. It is true that we were safe, but, at the same
time, we were in prison, and could not hope for escape, unless some
vessel came down to our assistance; and how long we might be compelled
to remain where we were, or what the chapter of accidents might bring
about, no one could foresee.

About eight o'clock the French ship again stood in, and when as close as
she dare come to us, she ran up and down, trying for deeper water on one
side or the other, but in vain. She was within gun-shot of us, it is
true, as we had run out into four fathoms; but we could always trip our
anchor when we pleased and stand further in. At last she tried a shot
at us, and it fell very close. Captain Delmar did not, however, get
under weigh and stand further in, although he ordered the capstern bars
to be shipped, and the messenger passed. A second and a third shot were
fired, and one went over us. At last the Frenchman anchored, and set to
work in good earnest. He found that he was within range, and as we did
not move, presumed that we were in as shallow water as we could run
into.

As the wind was still to seaward, we laid head on to him, and one of his
shot struck us in the forefoot; Captain Delmar then ordered the cable to
be hove in and the anchor tripped, by which means