e men at it across the deck. The rudder had been
carried away, and the ship lay a helpless wreck on the stormy ocean.

The men looked at each other, with blank dismay in their countenances,
but our brave commander did his best to conceal his anxiety, and the
officers followed his example.

"Clear away the wreck, lads; the gale won't last long, and when the wind
goes down we must try to get up jury-masts and repair the rudder," he
cried out.

All hands were now employed in trying to save some of the spars, and to
cut the masts clear, for their butts were striking with fearful force on
our larboard side, already shattered by the shot of the enemy. While we
were thus employed, the carpenter and his mates, who had been below,
came on deck, and went up to the captain. I saw by his looks as he
passed me that something was the matter. Directly afterwards the order
was given to man the pumps, and they were set clanging away as fast as
they could be made to work. The quantity of water gushing out showed
that the ship must be leaking at a rapid rate. There was so much work
to do that but few words were spoken. I happened to meet Larry.

"Cheer up, Mr Terence," he exclaimed. "Things look mighty bad; but
though our ship went to the bottom we were saved, and I'm after hoping
that we'll be saved again. It would be hard to have beaten the enemy
and yet to lose her."

"I don't expect that we shall do that," I answered. "The wind is fair
for Nova Scotia, and when we get up jury-masts and rig a new rudder, we
may be able to get her along."

Though I said this, I confess that I was not very sure about it. Things
didn't improve. The sea increased, the wind blew stronger and stronger,
and though the pumps were kept going without cessation, we could not get
the water under. It came in faster and faster. The reports from the
sick bay were also disheartening. Several of the poor fellows who had
left their hammocks to fight had since succumbed, and many others were
following them. The wounded, who might have done well under other
circumstances, dropped off one by one. The only satisfactory
intelligence was the state of the captain, who, though so badly wounded,
was progressing favourably. The day after the gale commenced ten men
died, and the following a still larger number. It was sad to see them
lashed in their hammocks as they were slid overboard. There was no time
for any funeral ceremonies. Even the healthiest am