214 SEAMANSHIP. 



with an axe, and everything ready alow 

 and aloft for a start. 



All kept their eyes most anxiously on 

 the barge, which, though hotly pursued, 

 was nearing the ship fast, while the 

 shot from the enemy's line-of-battle ship 

 flew through the rigging. All was silent 

 on board not a gun was fired ; but 

 directly the bowman in the barge hooked 

 on, and the captain had hold of the 

 side-ropes, the word was given the 

 cable was cut, the sails were sheeted 

 home, and the wind being off shore, 

 she turned on her heel, and gave the 

 Frenchman what the sailors call leg-bail. 

 All this was the work of a minute, and, 

 as related to me by an officer on 

 board, it had more the appearance of 

 magic than the effect of discipline. 



The captain, on his reaching the 

 quarter-deck, thanked his first -lieutenant 

 for his friendship, as well as the cool 

 and deliberate conduct he had displayed; 



