oceeded well; but we were
far from free of danger. Shot after shot struck us, several times we
were hulled, but not a man had yet been hit, when, to our dismay, the
wind grew very scant, and seemed about to head us.

"If it shifts a couple of points more to the southward, we shall have to
beat out of this place!" exclaimed the captain of the gun at which I was
stationed. "Never mind, lads; we'll teach these Frenchmen what a
British frigate can do in spite of all that."

Still the _Juno_ steadily held on her course. The wind backed once more
and came down the harbour, and on she glided. The enemy's guns were,
however, telling on us with fearful effect--our topsails were riddled
with shot, and our rigging much cut up; but as the damage occurred, our
active crew flew here and there to repair it, as well as time and the
darkness would allow. Now the harbour opened out broadly before us, and
the line of open sea could be perceived ahead. Our masts and spars
stood unharmed, the firing from the forts grew fainter and fainter.
Scarcely a shot reached us. On we stood. The shot began to drop
astern. For several minutes not one had struck us. The Frenchmen tried
in their rage, but all in vain.

"We are free! we are free indeed! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" burst with
one voice from all our crew, and the gallant _Juno_ bounded forward on
the wide ocean, to show what British daring, judgment, and promptitude
will effect, even although the most fearful odds are ranged against
success.

I trust that some on board that ship felt also that a merciful
Providence had preserved us from a galling and painful lot, which would
have endured for many a long year, to do our duty to Heaven and our
country. I trust that the example set by the crew of the _Juno_ will
serve as an example to all British seamen--never to yield while there is
a possibility of escape.

Well, it was amusing to see how the Frenchmen did stamp and rage when
they found that, instead of capturing us, they had been taken prisoners;
but we treated them very civilly, and after a few shrugs and grimaces,
like people having to take physic, we soon had the men singing and
jigging away as merry as crickets.

I remained for some time on board the _Juno_, and left her on a very
short notice, and very much also against my own will.

One dark night, as, with a convoy of merchantmen under our charge, we
were standing for Gibraltar, the watch below were roused up with the