nding
some bags of biscuit and casks of salt beef, and as we were feelingly
alive to their situation, we took from their crews six of their seamen. I
was much interested in two of these men. They had been absent nearly
eighteen months from their wives and families, and were fondly looking
forward to a meeting with those for whom they lived and toiled, but, alas!
they were doomed to return to that foreign climate they had a few months
before left, and from whence it was impossible to know when they would
come back.

[Illustration: FALMOUTH HARBOUR. [_Frith, Reigate._]

We kept the sea for two days longer notwithstanding the violence of the
westerly gale, in the hope it would not long continue; but finding we were
losing ground, we on the third day bore up for Falmouth, where we anchored
in the evening and remained windbound four days, during which period we
exercised the guns and sails.

On one of these days I went with a party of my shipmates on shore at St.
Maw's. Before coming off I bethought me of a pair of shoes, which I had
forgotten to procure at Falmouth. I inquired of a boy who passed me where
I could find a shop to supply my wants; he informed me the mayor was the
best shoemaker in the town. To this worthy magistrate I repaired, who I
found very busily employed on a pair of boots. He had spectacles on nose,
which feature was not very prominent and of a reddish-blue. I acquainted
him with my wish to have a pair of solid, good understanders. Pointing to
some shoes, "Good," said he, "young officer, here's a pair will fit you to
a T. They were made for Captain H.'s son, but the ship sailed before he
could send for them." As they fitted me I bought them. "So I understand,"
said he, "gentlemen,"--for two of the mids were with me--"you are going to
the Indies to make your fortunes." "Are we?" said I, "that is more than we
know." "Yes," continued he, "I am sure of it, and in a year's time you
will return with your pockets well filled with French money; and I hope,"
added he, "that if you return to Falmouth you will pay my shop a second
visit." I need not inform my reader that the worshipful shoemaking
magistrate proved a false prophet. We did return within a twelve-month,
and to Falmouth, 'tis true, but nearly as poor as when he told us our
fortunes; consequently we did not visit his shop a second time.

As we were the senior officer, and there being several sloops of war and
cutters in the harbour, we fired the e