EER AND A SLAVER.

On leaving the _Glutton_, I was struck down by sickness, and lay for
many long months in the hospital at Portsmouth, scarcely expecting to
recover. Oh, how hideous did Death, which I had braved a hundred times
in open fight, appear as silently he stalked along the wards of the
hospital! I trembled as I thought of the past;--how small was the hope
I had in the future! There was no one to bring me comfort--no one to
afford counsel--no one to point out the right, the only way by which a
sinner can be justified in the sight of a pure, just, holy God. Many
good resolutions I made--as many were soon afterwards broken. I
recovered; health returned to my veins--vigour to my arm. Once more I
was afloat in a dashing frigate.

We were off the Frenchman's coast. In a deep bay lay a number of the
enemy's vessels. It was necessary to ascertain their character. They
were supposed to be gun-boats. Our second lieutenant, Mr Ronald--a
noble specimen of a naval officer, and as active as a cat, though he had
but one leg--was directed to take the gig, a fast-pulling boat, and to
gain all the information he could. I was with him; so was Peter. The
frigate had made sail, as if about to leave the coast; but as soon as it
was dark, she stood back again. The gig was lowered, and we shoved off.

In dead silence, with muffled oars, we pulled in towards the shore. We
knew that the enemy mustered strong in the neighbourhood. Thus it was
necessary to be cautious. Not a word was spoken. The phosphorescent
light sparkled from the blades of our oars, appearing brighter from the
darkness which prevailed, but that could not be seen at any distance.
The time for our expedition had been well selected. We had pitchy
darkness to favour our advance; but we knew that the moon would soon
rise, and enable us to make the necessary observations. We pulled
slowly in, for the tide was with us, and Mr Ronald told us to reserve
our strength till it would be most required. As we got close in with
the shore, we could make out the masts of a number of vessels, in a
confused mass; but what they were without more light, it was impossible
to say without going close up to them. Mr Ronald was not a man to
leave his work half done through fear of consequences, so we pulled on
till our oars almost touched some of the outer vessels. Our officer
made his remarks as we continued our course round the bay.

Not a sound had broken the stilln