de, but most of her shot went flying over the _Supplejack_, while
others fell ahead or astern of her, wide of their mark. Not one of Long
Tom's shot missed, most of them striking between wind and water; and as
she drew nearer they told with still greater effect. At last the enemy
put about and attempted to run up the harbour. Vain were her efforts to
escape; the last shot striking her gave her her death-blow. With her
canvas all set and colours flying, gradually she sank till the water
washed over her decks, and her crew were seen scrambling aloft, leaving
the wounded to their fate. Within ten minutes of the time she got into
action her topmasts alone appeared above the surface. Just before this
the three schooners had come up and had opened their fire, but none of
their shot had struck the _Supplejack_; and their commanders, seeing the
fate of their consorts, came to the conclusion that discretion was the
better part of valour, and hauled down their flags amid the cheers of
the British crew. Murray lowered his boats and sent them to pick up any
of the brig's crew who might have been unable to escape aloft. The
lives of several were thus saved. The schooners also sent their boats
and took off the men from the rigging. The _Supplejack_ then stood back
for the corvette. Murray directed Higson and Desmond to take
possession. Their fat friend, the first lieutenant, received them at
the gangway, with his hat in one hand and his sword in the other. There
was no bluster in him now.

"Where is the commodore?" asked Higson, looking round the deck, which
was strewed with dead men.

"There!" answered the lieutenant, pointing to the mangled form of a man
which lay on the quarter-deck, his uniform alone showing that it was
that of the commodore. He had been almost cut in two by a shot from
Long Tom.

"How many men have you lost?" asked Higson.

"Twenty-five," answered the lieutenant. "Our crew declared that they
were fighting with devils and not men, and refused to fire another
shot."

"If they had handled their guns as our fellows did theirs, we shouldn't
have taken you so easily," answered Higson. "You deserve a better
ship's company."

"Many thanks for your compliment," answered the crestfallen lieutenant.
"It is the fortune of war."

The schooners being brought up close to the corvette, the _Supplejack_
anchored near them, with Long Tom so trained that, should the
Carthagenans attempt to recapture their