his time the topsails had been let fall, and in less than three
minutes were sheeted home. The headsails filled. At the very moment
they did so, a stronger puff of wind came right down the harbour. "Cut,
cut!" was the word. Round swung her head towards the open sea. Almost
with a bound it seemed her stern lifted off the ground. "Hurrah!
hurrah! We are free! we are free!" was the joyful cry. Now, come shot
or shell, or whatever our foemen choose to send. We have our brave ship
under command, and if our stout sticks do but stand, we may yet escape
the trap into which we have so unwarily fallen.

Such were the sentiments which were felt, if not expressed, by all on
board the frigate. Plenty of sharp eyes were on shore, watching through
the gloom of night, as far as they were able, the movements of the
English frigate, expecting to see her every moment glide up the harbour,
where, of course, troops had been rapidly collected to take possession
of the prize, and conduct us within the precincts of a French prison.

The Republicans must soon have discovered that their plan to capture us
had not been altogether successful. As we sailed down the harbour,
instead of up, as they had expected, lights began to gleam from the
various strong forts which lined each side of the harbour below us, and
also from the deck of our friend the brig, off Great Tower Point. Then,
as we glided on, every moment gathering fresh way, from all directions a
hot fire was opened on us. As with the light wind there was blowing it
was necessary to be rid of every obstruction, both our barge and the
Frenchmen's boat were cut adrift, though we would gladly have prevented
even them from falling into their hands.

There was now no longer any necessity for concealment. The drums beat
to quarters, the guns were cast loose, and as we passed down the harbour
we began to return the compliments our enemies were so liberally
bestowing on us. We had our guns ready in time to give our friend the
brig a good dose, but what mischief we inflicted we could not tell; and,
to do her justice, she was not slack in her attempts to cripple us.
Thus in an instant the harbour, so lately sleeping in silence, and, as
it were, shrouded in the solemn gloom of night, was rudely awaked and
lighted up with the roar and bright flashes of a hundred guns, which,
fast as they could be discharged, sent forth a continuous fire at our
seemingly devoted ship. Thus far all had pr