548 NIGHTS IN THE GALLKY. 



line ; they did the same, and so o' course they kept the weather- 

 gage of her, and gently edged down. Directly they came within 

 gunshot the Frenchman let fly, but did little damage, except to the 

 rigging, and that's always the way with 'em ; they fire too high 

 they always fire on the roll up, and we on the roll down. The Se- 

 ringapatam kept her fire till she got close alongside, when she let fly 

 her whole broadside at once right into the Frenchman's hull. At 

 last they fell right on board, their main-yards locked each other, but 

 owing to the sea they could not board from the deck, so up sprung 

 the first luff up the main rigging, crying ' Follow me, first division 

 of boarders/ Young Watts was the first to follow ; up they ran, 

 bullets flying about their heads like hail, and the men falling down 

 from the rigging as fast as they got up ; still Watts kept close to the 

 first-leaftenant ; at last they got on the main-yard they were too 

 late, the yards had cleared themselves, and were parted. ' Nothing 

 can be done here, I'm afraid,' said the first luff; ' never mind, we'll 

 lay out, and try what we can do. Out they went. Still Watts was 

 second. The Frenchman's main-lift was slack. ' Nothing can be 

 done,' cried the first luff, ' we must try the deck again.' ' One trial 

 here first, Sir,' said Watts, and making a spring, he caught hold of 

 the bight of the Frenchman's main-lift. ' By G d !' said the first 

 leaftenant, ' that boy teaches us all,' as he made a spring to follow, 

 but missing his hold, dashed his brains out on the Frenchman's deck. 

 My father followed, and several men after him. All this time they 

 were firing away on deck, and from the tops, and from their smoke 

 nobody had observed the boarders on the main-yard, so they reached 

 the main-top before they were seen ; then a desperate struggle took 

 place for the top ; at last Watts' party gained it, after he had been 

 wounded, fighting like a young tiger. ' Now, sir/ says my father, 

 ' you had better send one of the men on board our ship, to tell the 

 captain, for we shall have the Frenchmen upon us directly.' ' Go 

 yourself, Short,' said he. 'No, sir, that I won't leave you for a 

 minute, without you orders me, and then o' course I must.' ' Well,' 

 he said, ' send any one of the men.' So down went one of the men, 

 and poor little Watts layed down in the top, quite exhausted from a 

 wound in his left arm. My father stanched it with his black silk 

 handkerchief, and the captain, when he heard the top was taken, for 

 they had not been able to board from the deck, said ' Well done, my 

 brave boy ;' and then turning to the second luff, he says ( Take the 

 second division, and board her from the deck.' He did so, and in 

 half an hour the Frenchman was theirs ; and how young Watts got 

 promoted I'll tell you after Jack Murray's yarn to-morrow night, for 

 there's stand by hammocks." 



" Well done, Bob," said Jack Murray, " I thought you could use 

 that great tongue of yours. We must have you wag it again to- 

 morrow night." 



" Not without you set me the example," retorted Bob. 



"Well, I will lad, depend on't." 



Jack kept his word, and so did Bob. 



