h of a boy for fightin'.
It's an Irishman he should have been born. Hooroo, my hearties! look
out!"

This latter exclamation was drawn forth by the crashing of a stray shot,
which entered the ship close to the spot where they stood, and passed
out on the starboard side, sending splinters of wood flying in all
directions, without hurting any one.

"There goes the first!" said Bill Bowls, looking up at the ragged hole
that was left.

"Faix, but it's not the last!" cried Flinders, as another stray shot hit
the ship, wounding one of the men, and sending a splinter so close past
the Irishman that it grazed his cheek. "Hooroo, boys! come on, the more
the merrier! Sure it's death or victory we'll be havin' in
half-an-hour."

At this moment of intense excitement and expectation, when every man's
nerves tingled to be called into vigorous action, Ben Bolter saw fit to
give Flinders a lecture.

"Ye shouldn't ought to speak misrespectful of death, boy," said he
gravely. "He's a rough customer when he gits hold of 'e, an' is sartin
sure to have the upper hand. It's my opinion that he'll pay this ship a
pretty stiff visit to-night, so you'd better treat him with respect, an'
belay yer jokin'--of which yer countrymen are over fond."

To this Flinders listened with a humorous expression about the corners
of his eyes, while he stroked his chin, and awaited a pause in order to
make a suitable reply, but an exclamation from Bill Bowls changed the
subject abruptly.

"Ho! boys," he cried, "there goes the Admiral."

A tremendous crash followed his words, and the _Vanguard_ was seen to
pour a broadside into the _Spartiate_--as before related.

The men of the _Majestic_ gazed eagerly at the Admiral's ship, which was
almost enveloped in thick smoke as they passed ahead, but an order from
Captain Westcott to be ready for action called the attention of every
man on his duty. Whatever might have been, at that moment, the thoughts
of the hundreds of men on board the _Majestic_, the whole soul and body
of every man appeared to be concentrated on his own gun, as he awaited
in stern silence the order to act.

It came at last, but somewhat differently from what had been expected.
A sudden and peculiar motion was felt in the ship, and it was found that
she had got entangled with the main rigging of one of the French vessels
astern of the _L'Orient_. Instantly men were sent aloft to cut clear,
but before this could be accomplished a p