such thoughts
trouble you. Your head is as firm on your shoulders as that of any
other man on board."

"Ay, but how many other men will lose theirs?" said Smedley. "I cannot
help thinking of home at all events, and though I may come out of this
day's fight unscathed, I often wish I had remained quietly at home,
without hankering after the sea. It all comes of that wild life we boys
led in the forest. We did many things we ought not to have done, and
it's to those I owe being out here. However, I will try to do my duty
and bring no discredit on our native town."

"I am sure you will not do that," said Jack; "and I hope I shall see you
throw up your cap with the rest of us, when the enemy strikes to our
flag."

As the "Weymouth" drew near the stranger it was seen that she was a very
large ship, considerably larger than the former, and probably carrying
many more guns, with a more numerous crew. Still this in no way daunted
the courage of the British seamen, but only made them the more eager for
the attack. Most of them had already engaged in many a hard-fought
battle with superior numbers, and come off victorious. They knew what
British pluck and British muscle could do, and that if they could handle
their guns twice as fast as the enemy could haul in and out theirs, that
even should they have only half the number of their antagonist, they
might still hope to beat her.

Jack had frequently spoken to the man whose countenance he thought he
knew when he first came on board, but the latter denied ever having seen
him before. Jack now saw him standing at a gun not far from the one
where he was stationed. The man looked very pale, and, like Smedley,
was not joining in the jokes of his shipmates. Jack watched his
countenance, and now was more convinced than ever that he was Burdale.

As the "Weymouth" drew near, the stranger hoisted French colours, and
finding that escape was impossible, hauled up her courses, and fired a
gun in defiance, which was answered by one from the "Weymouth." Both of
the shots, however, fell short of their aim. The combatants, without
again firing, now rapidly drew near each other, with their flags and
streamers flying and their trumpets loudly sounding. Men armed with
muskets were stationed in the large heavy round-tops, each holding a
dozen or more soldiers, while others were stationed in the topgallant
forecastle, and others at the poop. Guns were also placed inside the
forecas