ll and ship's
company, but more in her spars and rigging. The foremast was nearly cut
in half by the carronade shot of her antagonist; her mainyard was badly
wounded, and her wheel knocked to atoms, which obliged them to steer on
the lower deck. The _Windsor Castle_ had received five shots in her
hull, three men killed, and six wounded; three of her main shrouds cut
in two, and her mizzenmast badly wounded.

It was a quarter of an hour before the Frenchman returned to the attack.
Captain Oughton had again hauled his wind, as if not wishing to decline
the combat; which, indeed, the superior sailing of his antagonist
prevented. The corvette appeared to have given up manoeuvring; whether
from the crippled state of her spars and sails, or from perceiving that
he had hitherto gained nothing by his attempts. He now ranged up to
within two cables' lengths of the _Windsor Castle_, and recommenced the
action, broadside to broadside.

The breeze was lulled by the concussion of the air; and both vessels
continued in the same position, and at the same distance for upwards of
an hour, pouring in their broadsides, every shot of which was effectual.

"Now, this is what I call a reg'lar set-to. Fire away, my lads," cried
Captain Oughton, rubbing his hands. "A proper rally this. Damn it, but
he's game!"

The wounded mizzen-mast of the _Windsor Castle_ received another shot in
the heart of it, which threw it over the side. Every part of her hull
proved the severe and well directed fire of the enemy; her sails were as
ragged as Jeremy Didler's pocket-handkerchief; her remaining masts
pitted with shot; the bulwarks torn away in several places; the boats on
the booms in shivers; rigging cut away fore and aft, and the ends
swinging to and fro with the motion of the vessel; her decks in
confusion; and some of her guns, from necessity, deserted. Captain
Oughton, Newton, and the rest of the officers, continued to encourage
the men, giving them assistance in working the guns; and the ship's
company appeared to have fully imbibed the bull-dog spirit of their
commander.

The fire of the _Windsor Castle_ had been equally destructive. The
vessels had gradually neared each other in the calm; and the height of
the _Windsor Castle_ out of the water, in comparison with the corvette,
had given her the advantage in sweeping the decks of the enemy. The
contending vessels were in this situation, when, for a minute or two, a
cessation of fir