hip will always be ours, when we want it; and
in the event of a general action, he would make a gap in the enemy's
line, which might prove of the greatest importance. Now, sir, without
drawing the parallel any further,--without taking into consideration the
value of the respective officers and men,--I must take the liberty of
observing, that, on your account alone, England will be no gainer by the
loss of both vessels and crews."

"Thank you for the compliment, which, as it is only feather-weight, I
will allow to be thrown into the scale. But I do not agree with you. I
consider war but as a game of chess, and will never hesitate to
sacrifice a _knight_ for a _castle_. Provided that _castle_ is lost,
Mr Pearce," continued the captain, pointing to the French vessel--"this
little frigate, if necessary, shall be _knight-errant_ enough to bear
her company."

"Very good, sir," replied Pearce, again touching his hat; "as master of
this ship, I considered it my duty to state my opinion."

"You have done your duty, Mr Pearce, and I thank you for it; but I have
also my duties to perform. One of them is, not to allow the lives of
one ship's company, however brave and well-disciplined (and such I must
allow to be the one I have the honour to command), to interfere with the
general interests of the country we contend for. When a man enters His
Majesty's service, his life is no longer to be considered his own; it
belongs to his king and country, and is at their disposal. If we are
lost, there will be no great difficulty in collecting another ship's
company in old England, as brave and as good as this. Officers as
experienced are anxiously waiting for employment; and the Admiralty will
have no trouble in selecting and appointing as good, if not a better
captain."

The contending ships were now about two cables' length from each other,
with a high rocky coast, lashed with a tremendous surf, about
three-quarters of a mile to leeward. The promontory extended about two
points on the weatherbow of the frigate, and a low sandy tongue of land
spread itself far out on her weather quarter, so that both vessels were
completely embayed. The line-of-battle ship again made an attempt to
get up some after-sail; but the well-directed fire of the frigate,
whenever she rose on the tops of the mountainous waves, which at
intervals hid the hulls of both vessels from each other, drove the
Frenchmen from their task of safety, and it was now