ip's company of the _Aurora_
were all at their quarters, as a few minutes would now decide whether
they had to deal with a friend or a foe.

There is no situation perhaps more difficult, and demanding so much
caution, as the occasional meeting with a doubtful ship. On the one
hand, it being necessary to be fully prepared and not allow the enemy
the advantage which may be derived from your inaction; and on the other,
the necessity of prudence, that you may not assault your friends and
countrymen. Captain Wilson had hoisted the private night-signal, but
here again it was difficult, from his sails intervening, for the other
ship to make it out. Before the two frigates were within three cables
length of each other, Captain Wilson, determined that there should be no
mistake from any want of precaution on his part, hauled up his courses
and brailed up his driver that the night-signal might be clearly seen.

Lights were seen abaft on the quarter-deck of the other vessel, as if
they were about to answer, but she continued to keep the _Aurora_ to
leeward at about half a cable's length, and as the foremost guns of each
vessel were abreast of each other, hailed in English--

"Ship ahoy; what ship's that?"

"His Majesty's ship _Aurora_," replied Captain Wilson, who stood on the
hammocks. "What ship's that?"

By this time the other frigate had passed half her length clear of the
beam of the _Aurora_, and at the same time that a pretended reply of
"His Majesty's ship--" was heard, a broadside from her guns, which had
been trained aft on purpose, was poured into the _Aurora_ and, at so
short a distance, doing considerable execution. The crew of the
_Aurora_, hearing the hailing in English, and the vessel passing them
apparently without firing, had imagined that she had been one of their
own cruisers. The captains of the guns had dropped their lanyards in
disappointment, and the silence which had been maintained as the two
vessels met was just breaking up in various ways of lamentation at their
bad luck, when the broadside was poured in, thundering in their ears,
and the ripping and tearing of the beams and planks astonished their
senses. Many were carried down below, but it was difficult to say
whether indignation at the enemy's ruse, or satisfaction at discovering
that they were not called to quarters in vain, most predominated. At
all events it was answered by three voluntary cheers, which drowned the
cries of those who