even
and made the shot tell among some of them, until the pilots warned me that
if I stood further in they would give up charge of the ship. I chased
them, with the exception of one, who ran aground near Calais, into that
port. In hauling off after giving them a few more shot, their battery
favoured us with one which struck us between wind and water. As the shells
were now falling plentifully around us, I thought it prudent to make more
sail, as one of the shells had gone through the foretop-sail. Our force
generally consisted of three sloops of war to watch Boulogne, the senior
officer being the commodore, but in spite of all our vigilance the
privateers crept along shore under cover of the night without being seen,
and they sometimes tantalized us by anchoring outside, but so close in and
under their batteries that it was impossible to get at them in that
position. We, one morning at daybreak, captured a row-boat with twenty-two
men, armed with swivels and muskets. We had disguised the ship so much
that she took us for a merchantman, and before she discovered her mistake
was within pistol-shot. Three months had now expired, which had been
passed much in the same manner as the last cruise, when a cutter came out
to order us into the Downs.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SAME WEARY ROUND.

Leave to return home for four days--Visit of the Duke of
Clarence--Again off Boulogne--Down Channel with a convoy--Boulogne
once more--Refit at Plymouth--Return Boulogne--Run aground on French
coast--Part of crew escape in boats--Author and nineteen men remain
on board.

On our arrival, in consequence of the vessel wanting material repairs, we
were desired to repair to Sheerness. The commander-in-chief at this
ill-flavoured town was a King John's man, four feet something without his
shoes, and so devoted to the reading of the Scriptures that he sometimes
carried that sacred book under his arm. Some ill-natured people said he
understood little of its doctrines, as he was too cross and unsociable to
be a good Christian. Be that as it may he gave me leave, whilst the ship
was refitting, to go home for four days. Where is the man who does not,
after he has been absent from his family for nearly ten months, yearn to
be with a fond wife and half a house full of dear children once more.
During the short period I was at home, I