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AMONG the gunners -and he was said to be the most expert of them all-was an old man by the name of Abraham Dyker, who had shown Donald and me many favours since we joined the Comet's crew, and when the command was given for the men to return to their stations I took up my rightful position near by Dyker's gun.

The old man was standing by his piece idly, with no evidence of excitement on his face, and, believing he saw in this matter something more favourable for us than did the rest, I ventured to ask, with an apology for being thus curious:

"How think you Captain Tom can get us out of this snarl if he continues to run straight into the midst of the fleet?"

"How can he do it, lad?  Firstly, I don't allow we're in a snarl, and, secondly, we'll come out of it as a well-armed Baltimore clipper ought to, -with more than one prize, or I'm mistaken."

"Do you believe Captain Tom will really dare to fight against such odds?"

"He wouldn't dare refuse to do so, lest in the future he should despise himself for having turned tail when there was no call for it."

"No call for it!" I repeated, in surprise.  "Why, it's sheer madness to attack four vessels carrying fifty-four guns against our fourteen!"

"If it so be lad, that you remain on board the Comet a twelvemonth, I venture to predict, and am willing to bet a farthing's worth of silver spoons, that you will see a heap more of such madness.  Why is it that Tom Boyle can have his pick of sailors?  Because every man jack of 'em knows he ain't one as can be easily scared."

"I should say not," I replied, thinking of the odds against us, and then, in a tone which I intended should be one of sarcasm, I asked, "When do you allow, Master Dyker, that the captain of the Comet would be warranted in turning tail?"

"Well," the old man began, thoughtfully, as he leaned against the gun, "perhaps I might say it would be a bit of foolhardiness to make such a venture if the enemy carried twice as much metal as does this fleet, but at the same time I'm doubtful if even that would prevent Captain Tom from trying to cut out one or more of 'em."

"Do you really believe he would venture to give battle with fourteen guns against one hundred and eight ?"

"Hark ye, lad. If you are given to timorousness, this is not the craft on which you should have shipped, nor is your uncle the master under whom you should sail, for I tell you that nothing short of a ship of the line would scare him very seriously.  The Comet is out to take prizes, and when the night is as bright as this promises to be she'll do it, without heeding how strong may be such craft as are convoying the fleet."

"Stephen Burton is wanted on deck!"

This summons came from some one aft whose face I could not distinguish in the gloom, for by this time the day was so far spent that the gun-deck was darkened by the twilight, and the lanterns were not fully lighted.

Without thought that he should remain at his station until ordered elsewhere, Donald Fyffe would have joined me as I hastened towards the hatchway, but Master Dyker sharply reminded him that he must stay below, and alone I went quickly aft, wondering why I had been summoned.

"The captain sent for you," Mr. Harker said, as I appeared, and at the same time giving me a push which nearly sent me headlong, for just at that moment the Comet was rising on a huge wave.

After recovering my footing I saluted in proper fashion, as the second mate had taught me, and Captain Tom said, curtly, much as if speaking to an entire stranger:

"You are to remain aft here in order to carry messages below should it become necessary.  Keep close by my side, and, at the same time, see to it that you are not in the way."

It was an order which I did not fully understand, and for an instant was on the point of asking the meaning, when I realised that a lad would be thick-headed indeed if he could not obey such commands as might be given in plain words, therefore held my peace; and thus it was that I saw all of this night attack, which could not have been the case had I remained below serving out ammunition.

By this time the little schooner was well up on the starboard side of the British ship, and between her and the two brigs.

The moon, which had risen before the sun went down, was shining brightly, while not a cloud showed itself in the sky, and there seemed little need of the battle-lanterns, which were hung fore and aft.

I was yet staring about me stupidly, trying to discover the whereabouts of the Portuguese brig of war, when, with his speaking-trumpet in hand, Captain Tom leaped to the port rail and shouted to those aboard the ship:

"Back your main topsail, or I'll send a broadside into you!"

So great was the schooner's headway that even as he spoke we dashed past the merchantman, and the word was given to "luff," in order that we might cross the ship's bow.

While the manoeuvre was being executed Captain Tom again ordered the craft to surrender.

Now it was that I saw the man-of-war brig directly astern of us, and coming up as if she meant business.

I was still gazing at what I believed to be our most dangerous enemy, when it was as if a volcano suddenly burst forth beneath my very feet. The schooner trembled from stem to stern, and out of the port side came great volumes of smoke, which momentarily hid the ship from view.

A broadside had been sent aboard the merchantman, and, in obedience to orders which I had not heard, our brave little Comet turned suddenly on her heel, discharging her starboard guns full at one of the brigs.

Then she was put about, when, to my dismay, I found that we were close alongside the Portuguese man-of-war.

Even as I looked at that row of yawning ports they were illumined by flashes of light, and it was to me as though hundreds of round-shot passed directly over my head.

At the same moment our gallant little schooner quivered as if she had struck upon a sunken reef, and the rending and splintering of wood told that at least one of the Portuguese missiles had found its mark.

There was a scream from below, followed by groans which were suddenly drowned in the noise of the Comets broadside, delivered full at the Portuguese, and no less than two of the brig's spars were brought down, while twenty or thirty feet of her bulwarks were ripped off.

"Get you below, lad, quickly, and see what mischief may have been done by that shot!  Do not loiter there, but return as soon as possible."

I darted below with all speed, thinking to myself that for a few moments, at least, I should be in greater safety than on deck; but afterwards came to learn that he who stands unsheltered is in less danger than those who work the guns below, where is possibility of being wounded by splinters, should a ball find lodgement in the hull.

The scene on the gun-deck was one, which I am powerless to set down in such fashion as to paint it properly in words.

The first thing which riveted my attention was the smoke that filled all the space, and through which could be dimly seen our men, stripped to the waist and barefooted, working the pieces.

To one unfamiliar with such scenes, as was I, it was impossible, at a single glance, to determine how much mischief had been done, and I was making my way forward with no little difficulty because of the dense, pungent vapour, when our port broadside was discharged once more, -at the three merchantmen, as I afterwards learned, -and I was nearly felled to the deck by the terrific noise like unto that of a fearful explosion.

The smoke became more dense; I could hear the gunners shouting to their mates, and the officers from above roaring commands down through the hatchway.  Now and then groans from some portion of the schooner told that this was a game in which many must be killed in order to give one side or the other the victory, and, worse than all to me, was the horrible fear that at the next instant some missile, crashing through the timbers, would deal a death-blow to the lad who had so foolishly fancied there was much honour to be gained in warfare.

I was sick at heart and faint from cowardice when I saw dimly, through the volumes of smoke, Abraham Dyker, half naked, begrimed with powder, and looking more like a fiend and less like a man than I had ever believed could be possible in a human being.

Above all my timorousness and sickness was the knowledge that I had a task to perform, and by Master Dyker's aid it seemed possible I might be able to acquit myself with some little degree of credit, even though, properly speaking, none should be given me.

"I am sent by the captain to find out what mischief has been done, and know not how to set about it," I cried, whereat the gunner replied:

"Tell him we have only been scratched.  One of the ports was splintered, but the ball buried itself in the stanchion."

"Surely it was more than a scratch, Master Dyker," I ventured to say, "for some of the men must have been killed or wounded."

"Ay, lad, one has lost the number of his mess, and a couple, maybe three, are under the surgeon's hands; but I'll venture to say that aboard the Portuguese you'll find the cockpit crowded, for our broadside was sent with some precision, which is more than can be said for them outlandish man-of-war's men."

It would have pleased me could I have spoken with Donald Fyffe just then; but he was not near at hand, and to have searched for him would have been to delay when my orders were to make haste.

Captain Tom gave no token that he heard my report, although I bawled as loudly as might be, and was on the point of repeating it when he said, curtly:

"That will do. Remain near at hand until you are wanted."

I can only explain what took place during the next half-hour in such bungling fashion as to say that it seemed to me as if the Comet were darting here and there, everywhere, among the ships, discharging broadside after broadside as rapidly as the guns could be reloaded, at whichever of the four vessels could best be gotten into range.

Then it was that the schooner reeled as if she had run full upon a rock, quivered an instant, as if recovering herself, and, after no more than a moment's delay, continued her work of destruction.

Again I was sent below to learn what mischief had been done, and this time was able to see for myself the effects of the blow.

A round-shot had passed directly through the Comet twelve or fifteen inches above the level of the gun-deck, and in its passage had wounded four men, all of whom were lying as they had fallen, when I saw them.

It was a horrible spectacle, and had I come upon it earlier in the fight it might have completely unnerved me; but, like the others, although in not so great a degree, I was growing hardened and indifferent to suffering as this unequal battle progressed.

"Tell Captain Tom it is only another scratch," Master Dyker cried, as he saw me, and save for the sound of his voice I would have mistaken him for a negro, so blackened was all the exposed portion of his body.  "Only another scratch, and I'll warrant you the surgeons on board the other craft have got their hands full."

At    that    moment, Donald Fyffe came up laden with powder, and I stopped to speak with him a few seconds.

Although it was midwinter, the heat on the gun-deck was so great that no man could work there while fully clad, and, following the example of the others, he had stripped himself, save as to trousers.

The perspiration was streaming down his face, ploughing here and there tiny strips of white on the blackened skin, until he looked like an Indian in war-paint, and the resemblance was heightened when he, who, a few weeks before, would have hesitated at causing an animal pain, said, gleefully:

"We are thinning the Britishers out in brave style, Stephen Burton, and if the man-of-war will only give us a chance to use our starboard guns, I warrant you her scuppers will run with blood, for we are wasting but few shots, and getting none in return."

His bare feet were in a crimson pool, which was staining the white deck, and yet he gave no heed to the fact.  His only thought seemed to be of killing.

When I returned to make my report, the big ship was so close at hand that I could see her main deck plainly.

It appeared to be literally covered with dead and wounded, and the splinters were flying in showers, as our gunners sent shot after shot with deadly aim.

To me it seemed as if half her rigging was cut; the immense masts, wounded near the deck, were swaying to and fro ominously, and all her spars forward, down to the foremast-head, had been carried away.

The two merchant brigs, sadly disabled, were crawling away to leeward, and the Portuguese was manoeuvring here and there in the faint hope of giving us a full broadside; but, thanks to Captain Tom's seamanship, this was impossible.

More than once, when she made ready to rake us, was the little Comet swung around on her heel like a top, and away we flew to attack the ship from another quarter.

There came a time, I cannot say at what hour, when I was startled by hearing a great shout of triumph from our crew, and I heard Mr. Marker say, triumphantly:

"There go her colours!"

She had surrendered although her metal was as heavy as our own, and in addition, we had had forty other guns opposed to us.

Even as the big ship gave up the fight two well-directed shots from our main deck totally disabled one of the brigs, and the cheers of the men had hardly more than died away when we saw that the second of the fleet had surrendered.

Ignorant as I was of such matters, it puzzled me to understand how advantage could be taken of our victory, for the moon was near to setting, the waves running boisterously high, and I believed it would be impossible for us to throw a prize-crew aboard either vessel, even though the Portuguese brig should not interfere.

Immediately after the ship's flag was lowered, Captain Tom held a brief conversation with the first officer, and men were at once told off to take possession of her.

I stood where all that took place on our deck could be seen, and asked myself again and again if it was possible our officers could be so foolhardy as to venture on board the prize.

Now many days afterwards I learned that Captain Tom would sanction, and even order, many wilder acts than that.

The men set about lowering the long-boat, as if this embarking on a stormy sea, with enemies on every hand, was but a trifling matter, and many of the crew came from below for the double purpose of watching the movements of the enemy, while there was a lull in the conflict.

Among these last was Donald Fyffe, and, heedless of the fact that he had no right to venture so far aft, he came to speak with me.

We two were talking regarding the proposed attempt to take possession of the prize, and wondering if any of the boat's crew would live to reach the ship, when Captain Tom cried, as he turned towards me:

"Here, lad, this is the chance to see something of the business you are trying to learn.  Take your place with the prize-crew, and see to it that you do all in your power towards helping get matters into proper shape once you are aboard the ship."

But for the fear I had of my uncle's anger, I would have refused to take part in any such hazardous venture; but I dared not set up my will against his, as I might have done had another captain been in command of the Comet, and with a sinking heart clambered into the longboat, which was hanging at the davits ready to be lowered away when her crew should be in their places.

Donald Fyffe made as if he would join me without waiting for orders, and observing his movement, Abraham Dyker called sharply after him, saying, when my comrade stepped to his side:

"Don't make the mistake, lad, of going where you are not sent, or Captain Tom may give you a lesson in discipline."

I waved my hand to Donald, as the word was given to lower away, and at that moment firmly believed I should never see him again, for I was convinced that we could not make the passage from the schooner to the ship without considerable loss of life.

When we were water-borne and had fended off from the Comet's side, the long-boat, heavily laden though she was, tossed here and there like a feather.  As we raced down the long swell into the trough of the sea, it was as if one were sliding over icy snow, so swift was the descent, and each time I marvelled that we ascended the next wave, for it seemed as if we must plunge straight to the bottom of the sea.

After two or three of these apparently perilous ascents and descents, I began to realise that the danger was not as great as it appeared, and then had opportunity to look about me understandingly.

Within our range of vision was only the ship and the schooner.

Where the Portuguese brig might be I knew not, and wondered greatly that she had so completely disappeared, until, when we were perhaps half-way from our starting-point and the prize, the man-of-war suddenly appeared from around the bow of the ship, towering above us, until she looked higher than a mountain.

I wondered if she was thus manoeuvring to take us prisoners, for the possibility of her firing at our small and heavily laden boat never entered my head until he who sat directly in front of me cried, in a tone of alarm:

"The heathen are making ready to give us a broadside! There is one satisfaction though, for Captain Tom will make it mighty hot for 'em; but we sha'n't be near enough the surface to see the punishment."

Then came flashes of light, seven I counted before we could hear the report, and everywhere around us in the sea splashed an iron shower, until the waters fairly boiled in their seething, drenching us to the skin, and filling the long-boat until she was gunwale deep.

The marvel of it was that in all this deadly storm no missile struck us.

I was not alone in my fear now, for more than one of the crew gave vent to exclamations of dismay, and the boatswain, who was in command, cried, hoarsely:

"It would be more than foolhardy for us to keep on, since that murdering foreigner will treat us to another dose, and likely have better luck next time.  What say you, lads?  Are we warranted in going back, although our orders were to board the ship?"

"We are not called upon to act as targets for them Portuguese fiends!  Captain Tom is the man who will square accounts with the gold-laced villain, and we had best put back to him."

To persist in carrying out the captain's orders meant death for all our crew, and it would be, as Master Dyker afterwards said, "A needless waste of blood, since by dying we could do them of the Comet no good."

From the poor way in which I have set this down, it would seem as if we hesitated many moments, while being flung up and down by the angry waters under the guns of the Portuguese brig, and yet, as a fact, no more than twenty seconds elapsed from the time the broadside was fired before we were scudding for the schooner, every oarsman exerting himself to the utmost.

It was no easy matter to board the Comet once we were near at hand, and ten minutes or more were spent before we stood on her deck.

Then it was that I saw Captain Boyle in what the second mate called a "fighting mad" mood.

"We'll give that Portuguese captain all he may want, and spend no useless time about it!" he cried, when the boatswain had come to the end of telling that we put back because the long-boat was so nearly swamped that half a dozen bucketfuls more would send her to the bottom.

Then certain orders were given, and Mr. Dyker, who had come on deck for the second time, said to me, with much of satisfaction in his tones:

Now, lad, you shall learn what a fourteen-gun schooner can do with a brig of war carrying nearly twice her metal.  So far it has been a case of run and strike, but if I'm not mistaken, from this out you'll see a fight such as will please you."