to the schooner that she
might have her support. We immediately recommenced firing with our long
gun, and as soon as we were within a mile, I hove to. The brig and
schooner then both bore up and gave us their broadsides; they had just
done so, when the midshipman who was on deck with me cried out, "A large
sail coming down before the wind, Mr Keene."

I caught up my glass. It was a sloop of war; the cut of her sails and
rigging evidently English. "It must be the Naiad," said I. "Well, I'm
glad of it. We shall lose some prize-money; but at all events we
require her surgeon, and that is of more consequence."

My men, who were quite tired out, were in great spirits at the
appearance of a friend. The brig had set studding-sails; she had
evidently seen the vessel to windward, and was now trying to escape, and
the schooner was following her as well she could. I immediately kept
away in pursuit, and when I fired into the schooner she hauled down her
colours. I did not wait to take possession, but followed the brig, who
appeared to sail as well off the wind as she did when close hauled.
Once or twice she rounded to return my fire, but afterwards she
continued running before the wind, having got two of her guns aft, with
which she attempted to cut away my rigging. In the meantime, the
strange vessel to windward had hoisted English colours, and was bringing
down with her a spanking breeze: fortunately it was so, for my
fore-topmast was knocked away by the fire of the brig, and I now dropped
fast astern.

We had scarcely got up a new fore-topmast and set sail again, when the
Naiad, who had exchanged numbers with me, passed the schooner without
taking possession of her, and was very soon not a mile from us. In half
an hour she was alongside and hailing me to haul my wind and take
possession of the schooner, continued in chase of the brig. I obeyed my
orders, and by the time I had put my men on board of the schooner, the
brig had hove to and hauled down her colours to the Naiad.

We ran down to her in company with the prize, and then sent a boat
requesting immediate surgical attendance. The Naiad's surgeon and his
assistant were brought on board in one of the sloop-of-war's boats, and
a lieutenant, to obtain from me the particulars of the action, which I
gave to him. The lieutenant told me that they had heard the firing
about one o'clock in the morning, and had in consequence bore up; but
the brig had so many shot