gside the brig
and scrambled on board, just as the boat sank beneath our feet. On this
the lieutenant, seeing that the brig had got good way on her, calling
his own boat's crew and that of the pinnace, shoved off, with the
intention of taking one of the other vessels, leaving the third
lieutenant and Mr Harvey to carry out the brig. The shot from the fort
came pitching about us, and we were hulled several times. One shot
struck the taffrail, and as the splinters flew inboard, the third
lieutenant, who was at the helm, fell. I at once ran to help him, while
Mr Harvey took his place. He was badly wounded, I feared; but on
recovering he desired to be left on deck, observing that should he be
taken below, the French prisoners might, he feared, get hold of him, and
hold him as a hostage, until we promised to liberate them, or restore
the brig.

Soon after this we got out of range of the guns from the fort. Looking
astern, we could see the flashes of pistols, and could hear the rattle
of musketry, as if a sharp fight were going on. It was very evident
that the first lieutenant was engaged in warm work. Possibly we thought
he might have caught a tartar and been getting the worst of it. Mr
Harvey proposed going back to his assistance, but the lieutenant feared
that if we did so, we should run a great risk of getting the brig
ashore, and might probably be captured. We therefore stood on until we
were clear of the harbour. Just as we were rounding the point, and
looking aft, I made out a vessel under weigh.

"Hurrah, Mr Lloyd has made a prize of another vessel," I shouted.

Some of the men doubted this, and declared that she was coming in chase
of us. I could not deny that such might possibly be the case, but
presently the fort opened upon her, which proved, as we supposed, that
she was another prize. We accordingly hove-to, out of range of the guns
of the fort, to wait for her; still some of the men fancied that she
might be after all, as they had at first supposed, an armed vessel
coming out to try and retake us. To guard against this, Mr Harvey
ordered us to load the guns. We found plenty of powder and shot, so
that we felt sure, if she was an enemy, of beating her off. The breeze
freshened as she got clear of the harbour and stood towards us. We were
at our guns, ready to fire should she prove an enemy. All doubt was
banished when, on approaching, a British cheer was raised from her deck,
to which we repl