elves stoutly, and for a while it seemed as if their numbers must in
the end prevail. The Spanish colours were still flying at her peak, and
Cochrane, observing them, told one of the sailors to make his way aft and
haul them down. As soon as the Spaniards saw their flag disappear, they
thought that the officers must have surrendered, and at once threw down
their arms. Without giving them time to think, or for their officers to
rally them, they were hurried down into the hold, and cannon were run
round, loaded with grape, and pointed down the hatchways in case they
should make an effort to retake the ship. As for us, we could hardly
believe in our good luck. The fight had lasted an hour and a half, and our
loss had been exceedingly small. Our first lieutenant, Parker, had been
severely wounded in several places, three sailors were killed, and
seventeen wounded. We found that our prize was the _Gamo_ frigate, with a
crew of three hundred and nineteen men, mounting thirty-two guns, firing a
broadside weight of one hundred and ninety pounds, while we had only
fourteen small guns.

"She was between six and seven hundred tons, and in the fight had lost her
captain, boatswain, and thirteen seamen killed and forty-one wounded, her
casualties thus exceeding the whole number of our officers and crew. Even
in the annals of our navy there is no instance of so successful an action
against such disproportionate odds. We naturally congratulated ourselves
upon our fortunes being as good as made. Cochrane would, of course, at
once receive post-captain's rank, Parker would receive a step, and I
should get at least a second lieutenantship. Cochrane's brother was placed
in command of the prize, and we sailed with him to Port Mahon. As I have
already told you, the jealousy of Lord Exmouth and the hot temper of
Cochrane caused the overthrow of our hopes. Cochrane, after three months'
delay, obtained his post rank, of which they could not deprive him, as,
having captured a vessel of superior force, he was entitled to it. They
refused, however, to promote Parker, which was simply scandalous and
altogether in defiance of the usages of the service, and it was some time
before I got a berth again. However, after we had repaired damages,
matters went on for a time as before.

"After taking some prizes we met the _Kangaroo_, whose captain was senior
to Cochrane, and requested him to act with him in an attack upon the fort
of Almanara, which we sile