stantly
ordered all sail to be made, and the ship's head to be kept north-west.
The stranger, which then hoisted French colours, leaving no doubt of her
character, made all sail in chase. Anxiously she was watched by all
hands.

"I thought how it would be, Billy!" exclaimed Tom Marline; "she is
coming up fast with us. The Monsieurs build fast ships--there's no
doubt on't; we shall have to fight her."

Meantime, all the crew were not so satisfied. Gipples and several
others like him looked at their overpowering enemy, and some went below
to fetch out their bags, for the sake of putting on their best clothing.

"I don't see why we should go for to have our heads shot away, or get
our legs and arms knocked off, just for the sake of what the Captain
calls honour and glory," observed Gipples in a low voice to those
standing near him. "We are certain to lose the ship and be made
prisoners when a quarter of us, or it maybe half, are killed and
wounded, and I for one don't see the fun of that."

"No more don't I," observed Sam Smatch, who had come up on deck to have
a look round. "I've been fiddler of a seventy-four, and now I'm cook of
this here little craft, all for the sake of old friends, and I've larned
a thing or two; but I haven't larned that there's any use knocking your
head against a stone wall, or trying to fight an enemy just three times
your size, and that's the real difference between us and that big
Frenchman. Mind you, mates, though, I don't want to be made a prisoner
by the Frenchmen, but it can't be helped--that I see."

Such was the tone of the remarks made by a considerable number of the
crew as they watched the gradual approach of the frigate. It was not
surprising, when they considered that they had, with their diminished
numbers, not a hundred men to oppose, probably, three hundred. Mr
Digby, the first lieutenant, as he passed along the decks, observed
their temper and reported it to the Captain.

"Never mind what some of them just now feel," he answered; "we have
plenty of good men and true, who will stand by me to the last. I intend
to fight the Frenchman, and beat him off, too. Send the men aft; I will
speak to them."

The crew, both the discontented and the staunch, came crowding aft.

"My lads," cried Captain Brine, "you have served with me now for some
time, and on numerous occasions showed yourselves to be gallant and true
British sailors. We have been in several actions when th