I never saw her that I know of."

"But that ship carries more than fifty-guns if I mistake not," I
replied. "Listen! Captain McBride is again speaking her."

"What does she say?" asked Edwards, as some words, the import of which
we could not make out, came wafted over the water towards no.

Our people, I ought to have remarked, were all at their quarters ready
for friend or foe--and grim, determined-looking veterans many of them
looked, with their sun-burnt faces and bearded chins.

"What does she say?" exclaimed O'Driscoll. "Why, listen!--that she's
French, and going to fight for the honour of la belle France. See, our
consort's beginning the game."

As he spoke, a volley of musketry was opened from the deck of the
Bienfaisant, which was replied to in the most spirited way by the other
ship, she at the same time hoisting French colours, and firing her
stern-chasers at us. The Bienfaisant now ranged up alongside and fired
her broadside right into the enemy. The Frenchman then fired hers, and
by the way her shot flew we judged that her object was to cripple her
opponent. We now stood on after the Bienfaisant, and as we ranged up
fired our guns with terrible effect right across our enemy's decks.
Then on we stood, while our consort had in the meantime tacked and
reached the place we had before occupied. In a short time she once more
ranged up alongside the Frenchman, and poured a heavy broadside into
him. Thus we continued, alternately changing places with each other.
We suffered wonderfully little damage for some time. The Frenchman's
great aim was to wing us. He evidently fought not for victory, for he
must have seen that was almost hopeless, but to escape capture. Never
was a ship better handled or fought with more gallantry. For some time
no one was hurt on board the Charon. At last one poor fellow got hit,
and soon afterwards some blocks and splinters came rattling down from
aloft. The mizen-topsail yard came down by the run, and I saw that it
had been shot away in the slings. Tremendous was the pounding we were
giving our enemy, but still he showed not the slightest intention of
giving in. His deck was already covered with the dead and wounded, and
the ship herself was in a very battered condition.

"That man is one of the bravest officers I ever encountered," observed
Captain Symonds, pointing to the captain of the French ship, whom we
could see moving about, encouraging his people.

"I wond