ad ever done in his life. Nat, too, recovered his self-possession, and
seemed to have lost all his fears. Still, it was a trying time for
youngsters who had never before been in battle. Round shot at times
struck the ship in quick succession. Three or four men had been killed
on the main deck, and others had been carried below badly wounded. Owen
had observed Mr Ashurst constantly moving about, evidently in no very
happy frame of mind.

"I say," observed Nat, "I rather think he doesn't half like it,"
pointing at the midshipman as he spoke.

"You have no right to think that," answered Owen. At that moment a shot
struck the cill of the port nearest to the spot where Owen was seated,
killing one man and wounding another, then flying across the deck close
to Mr Ashurst, it committed further havoc on the other side, laying low
another of the crew.

The midshipman gave a spring and fell over near Owen, who was at that
moment supplying his gun with powder. As soon as he was at liberty,
Owen endeavoured to help the midshipman.

"Are you hurt, sir?" he asked.

"I don't know--I thought I was," answered Mr Ashurst, getting on his
feet.

His reply produced a laugh from several of the men who heard him. He
walked away without uttering a word of thanks to Owen for his good
intentions. Another broadside was fired, when a loud cheer burst forth
from the crew on the upper deck, and was echoed by those on the main
deck.

"She has struck! she has struck!"

The English frigate had been a good deal cut up. The Frenchman had lost
her foremast and main topmast, while her hull was severely battered.
The "Sylvia" was hove to, and Mr Leigh, with a boat's crew, sent to
take possession of the prize. She proved to be the "Venus," forty-four
guns. Her captain having been killed, the first lieutenant presented
his sword to Mr Leigh; as he did so he pointed to a number of dead and
dying men about the decks, observing with a sigh--

"We did not yield until we had no hope of success. It is the fortune of
war."

"You have fought bravely, monsieur, and you and your crew will be
treated as brave men," answered Mr Leigh.

He then ordered that the dead should be hove overboard, and the wounded
carried below, to be attended to by the surgeon. He also directed the
French officers and most of the crew to prepare for going on board the
English frigate, though a few were retained for attending to the sick.
The remainder of the "Sylvia