ement of the action, and as yet
there was no visible advantage gained by either party. Suddenly Harry
gave a cry of anger and annoyance, in which David joined him. The old
man looked up. There was cause for it. The flag of England was seen to
drop from the masthead of the frigate. Could it be that she had struck?
The firing continued as furious as ever. No, it was impossible!

"See! see! there's another flying out!" exclaimed the midshipman,
exultingly. "All right, some fine fellow has climbed up and nailed it
there. Only the halliards were shot away. My captain would go down
sooner than strike; I know that."

The loud reports of the guns came succeeding each other rapidly over the
calm ocean. Now a loud crash, then a broadside was fired by both
parties at once, the sound of the different guns blending into one; now
a perfect silence, and then again single shots, and after a cessation
another broadside. At length the combatants scarcely moved, and became
enshrouded in a dense cloud of smoke, which nearly concealed them from
view. The firing was more furious than ever. They were yard-arm to
yard-arm, discharging their broadsides into each other. A light breeze
played over the water--the ships emerged from the cloud of smoke. The
English frigate had lost her mizen-mast, and its wreck lay over her
quarter.

Harry groaned, but directly afterwards he shouted, "They'll not give in,
though--they'll not give in, I am sure they won't."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE UNION JACK BEATS--THE RAFT STILL UNSEEN--THE PRIVATEER--DEATH OF OLD
JEFFERIES--THE FRENCH CAPTAIN.

The loss of her mizen-mast did not appear to damp the ardour of the
British frigate's crew. The firing was continued with unabated fury on
both sides, neither ship apparently moving through the water; now they
were shrouded in smoke--now the smoke was blown away, and the firing
ceased. "The Frenchman's foremast is tottering!" shouted Harry. "See!
see! David. Down it comes--hurrah! hurrah!" Still the flags of their
respective countries waved at the mastheads of the frigates. The mast
did not come down either when Harry thought it would, neither did the
firing cease altogether. Faint sounds of musketry or pistol-shots came
across the water--then three or four great guns were fired--the sides of
the ships were close together, or rather, the bow of the English frigate
was fast to the Frenchman's side.

"They are boarding," cried Harry; "I know it