"The frigate hoisted her colours, and of course we did the same. She
then fired a gun as a signal for us to remain, hove to, and we perceived
her boats lowering down. `Now, my lads,' said our captain, `if you
don't mind a shot or two, I think I will save you from impressment this
time.' We all declared that we would stand a hundred, rather than be
taken on board of a man-of-war. `Very well,' says he, `starboard a
little, and keep her a little away, so as to let her go through the
water; but keep the fore-sheet to windward, so that we may appear only
to have fallen off.' By this plan we gradually increased our distance
from the frigate, and got more on her bow. All this while the boat was
pulling towards us, rising and tossing on the sea, but still nearing us
fast. As she came nearer to us we let the lugger come up in the wind
again for a short time, that we might not appear to be dodging away, and
then, when the bowman was almost ready to lay in his oar, away we let
her go through the water, so that she was left astern again. They could
not well perceive this on board of the frigate, although the officer in
the boat was very savage, for at one time he had his bow oar in and his
boat-hook out. At last the frigate, perceiving that we were apparently
slipping away, put her helm up, and fired a shot across our bows.
`Now's your time, my boys,' said the captain; `let draw the sheets, the
breeze is strong. She must wait to pick up her boat, and that will give
us a mile at least.' Up went the helm, and we made all sail right for
the French coast. How's her head, Tom?"