must be that--then our
fellows will win the day.--The Frenchman's flag will be down directly.
Watch! watch! I know it will."

They waited eagerly, looking out for some time. Suddenly a cloud of
smoke ascended from one of the ships. It was difficult to say from
which; again and again the guns were fired. "I am afraid that after all
our friends are getting the worst of it," remarked David, with a sigh.

"Oh, no, no! impossible!" exclaimed Harry. "See, see! down comes the
Frenchman's flag--hurrah! hurrah! I knew it would be so. Englishmen
are never licked. We would go down first with our colours flying.
Hurrah! hurrah! we've gained the day." Harry waved his cap above his
head, and shouted long and loudly, communicating his enthusiasm, not
only to David, but to the old man himself; but so vehement in his
demonstrations of joy did he become at last, that he nearly upset the
raft, and then well-nigh fell overboard himself. David was rather more
quiet in his demonstrations, still he did not feel less satisfaction
probably than his friend.

"We must get on board to congratulate them," exclaimed Harry; "I
wouldn't miss that on any account; if we pull hard we shall be able to
get up to them--eh, Mr Jefferies? They will be some time repairing
damages and shifting the prisoners, and they are not likely to make sail
till then."

"We mustn't count too much upon that, young gentleman; we are further
off than you think, and darkness will be down over the ocean long before
we can get up to them. Besides, do you know, I don't think the sights
aboard those ships, either the conqueror or the conquered, would be so
pleasant as you suppose. I know what a man-of-war is after a
hard-fought battle. The decks strewn with the dead, and slippery with
blood and gore, the cockpit full of wounded men, lately strong and
hardy, now cripples for life, many dying, entering into eternity,
without a hope beyond their ocean grave, Christless, heathens in reality
if not in name, stifled groans and sighs, and oftentimes shrieks of
despair on every side. Such sights I have seen in my youth, and I speak
the language of some of the great preachers who have come down to these
parts, and boldly put forth the gospel of salvation to perishing sinners
under the blue vault of heaven. You only look at one side of the
picture, and that quickly vanishes away; mine, unhappily, is too real to
be wiped out quickly." The old man spoke in a tone he had no