understand my agitation.

"Yes, I am thankful to say we have thrashed the enemy, and I wish there
were a few more to treat in the same way. There is one fellow making
off, and I am afraid the _Astrea_ will not be able to work up to bring
her to action."

I looked out as he spoke. One of our frigates, to which he pointed, was
a long way to leeward, while a French frigate was standing under all
sail to the north-west. Our two antagonists appeared fearfully
shattered, both the French commodore's ship and the _Clorinde_, which
was even in a worse condition than we were. All our boats had been so
injured by shot that we were unable to send one to take possession of
our prize, and as the night was now rapidly coming on, we could not hope
to do much to repair damages till the morning. As long, however, as the
men could work, the carpenter's crew continued putting the ship to
rights. The rest of the already overworked crew were then piped below,
that they might be able to renew their labours on the morrow. I had
plenty to do in assisting the surgeons in attending on the wounded, till
at last, well wearied out, I turned into my hammock, thankful that my
dear brother and I had escaped the perils of the fight, and sincerely
hoping that, as it was my first battle, so it might be the last in which
I should be engaged. Before going below I took a look towards our
prize, whose light I saw burning brightly at no great distance from us.
I had now time to think of my own affairs, and of course was not a
little anxious about the fate of the _Barbara_, for it was too probable
that she had fallen into the hands of the Frenchmen. If so, they would
probably have sent her to France, as she was well provisioned for a long
voyage, or to one of their settlements, where she could be disposed of
to advantage. My sleep was sadly disturbed with these thoughts and with
the scenes of pain and suffering I had witnessed. I awoke soon after it
was light, and dressing quickly went on deck. It was to find everybody
there in a state of no small anger and vexation.

"She is off, gone clean out of sight," I heard people saying.

I inquired what was the matter.

"Why, it is enough to vex a man, Mr Braithwaite," observed the first
lieutenant. "As we could not send on board last night to take
possession of our prize, she has managed to slip away during the
darkness. She left a light burning astern on a cask to deceive us. If
we ever come up w