.

The tri-colour was immediately thrown up by the two Frenchmen, and a
shot was fired at us by the schooner: it fell exhausted into the water
about half a cable's length from us.

"Now, Cross," said I, "see if we can't return the compliment with a
little better success."

Cross, who had been training the gun, and had his eye on the sight,
waited for a second or two, and fired: we saw the shot pass through the
first reef of his main-sail, and dash into the water to leeward of him.

"Very good that, Cross; but hull him if you can."

The schooner now returned the fire with the whole broadside, apparently
twelve pounders; but they did not throw so far as our long
thirty-two-pounder, and no shot went over us, although one fell close
under the stern. At the distance, therefore, that we were, we had
everything in our favour and my object was to dismantle the schooner
before any chance enabled the brig to assist her. We continued to fire
at her, taking the greatest pains in our aim, for the next hour, during
which we ascertained that we had hulled her more than once, and had very
much cut up her spars and rigging. She continued to return the fire,
but without effect. One or two shots hit us, but their force was so
much spent by the distance they were propelled, that they did not enter
the sides. At last a shot fired by the gunner did the job; it struck
her foremast, which shortly afterwards went by the board. The Fireflies
gave three cheers at the good fortune.

"She's done for, sir," said Cross. "Now for the brig--we must try what
metal she carries."

"Stop a bit," said I, "Cross; we must give the schooner a little more
before she gets away. They have lowered down the main-sail and I
presume, intend getting up some head-sail, so as to pay off, and run
under the lee of the brig for shelter. Put the helm up, and run down so
as to keep the schooner about two points on our larboard bow. Get the
gun round, and pitch it into her."

As we had supposed, the schooner got a stay up from her bowsprit and to
her mainmast head, and hoisted a fore and aft sail upon it, that she
might pay off, and run down to her consort for support; but as we ran
three feet to her one, and now stood directly for her, we were enabled
to get close to her, and put several shots into her from our long gun as
we advanced. She did not attempt to round to, to give us her broadside,
and our raking shot must have had great effect. When within h