et, loading, and firing,
and bringing down a Spaniard at every discharge; for, like Apollo of
old, who is represented as a good shot as well as a good doctor, he
could send an enemy to his long home with a rifle-ball, or physic a
friend with such success as might thereafter ensue:

"Mighty he was at both of these,
And styled of war as well as peace."

It has never been our lot to take part in a naval engagement as an
agent, and we are thankful for it; for we are convinced, upon strong
internal evidence, of our cowardice; but we have been present at sundry
such actions, at a safe distance, as a spectator; and, from what we saw,
we can venture to assure our readers, that, when two ships or fleets are
exchanging their iron salutations, whether at long shot or close
quarters, there is nothing peculiarly interesting to a mere spectator in
the scene.

Isabella and her attendant had, all this time, remained quiet, but
dreadfully frightened as soon as the firing commenced. Finding, after
the lapse of fifteen or twenty minutes, that no danger had as yet come
near them, they became more composed; the former most earnestly and
sincerely imploring Divine protection, both for herself and for those
who were exposed to danger for her sake. Still she could not avoid
listening eagerly to every voice that was to be heard in the short
intervals of comparative stillness.

The action had been now carried on between the two vessels nearly half
an hour, at a distance of about forty yards, when a twelve-pound shot
passed through the Albatross's larboard quarter, and, encountering the
steward's pantry in its progress, made such a fearful jingling with the
crockery ware, tin coffee-pots, and earthen jugs, that, overcome with
extreme terror, both females left their city of refuge, and ran hastily
up the after-hatchway ladder, and presented themselves on the
quarter-deck. Just as they reached the deck, a shower of grape-shot flew
whistling across the ship, one of which, passing through the
hammock-nettings, struck a seaman in the forehead, and scattered his
blood and brains in all directions. He reeled backwards two or three
yards, and fell dead at Isabella's feet. Captain Williams immediately
drew her away from the ghastly spectacle, and gave orders to carry the
body forward on the other side of the deck. He then attempted to prevail
upon her to go below; but she was too much terrified to listen to him,
nor did she seem to understand