hich task they set about without a moment's
delay, I rallied my own boat's crew about me and led them on board the
Indiaman to take possession of her. We met with no opposition whilst
climbing the ship's lofty sides; but on gaining the deck a group of some
half a dozen figures were discovered mounting guard over the fore-
scuttle. Despatching the coxswain and three hands to secure these, and
the remainder of the crew to hunt up any stray Frenchmen who might
happen to be lurking about the decks, I turned my steps in the direction
of the poop cabin, and calling one hand to attend me, at once made my
way thither.

One of the doors was standing wide open, with a brilliant stream of
light pouring through it, lighting up the massive mainmast and the gear
attached to it for a height of some twelve feet above the deck, and
revealing the fact that the quarter-deck guns at least of the vessel had
never been cast loose, thus confirming me in the suspicion I had before
entertained that the vessel had been taken by surprise. Entering the
cabin, a strange scene presented itself. The apartment itself was very
spacious, being of the full width of the ship, and extending right aft
(the sleeping cabins and the captain's private quarters, I subsequently
discovered, were situated below, on the main-deck); and it was very
handsomely fitted up with rosewood and maple panels, a great deal of
gilt moulding, several mirrors, and some half a dozen very decently
executed pictures; whilst a handsome five-light chandelier--with one of
the lamps recently broken--swung from the beams overhead. Against the
forward bulkhead and between the two doors giving admission to the cabin
there stood a very massive and handsomely carved buffet, on which stood
a quantity of finely cut crystal, several decanters containing wine and
spirits, and some fruit dishes loaded with fruit. A long table stood
fore and aft in the centre of the saloon with, perhaps, a couple of
dozen luxurious-looking chairs ranged round it; and along each side of
the cabin ran a range of wide handsomely upholstered sofa lockers. The
floor was covered with a thick Turkey carpet of handsome design. But it
was not so much the rich furnishing of the saloon which made it
remarkable; it was the aspect and grouping of the people I found there.
A dozen or more gentlemen, clad only in their shirts and trousers, and
several of them bleeding from wounds, were seated on the lockers, with
their f