Every boat was got into the water, and brought over to the starboard
side, with a few hands in each.
"We shall have to cut away the masts," said Nettleship, whom I again
passed.
The ship was still forging over the ledge on which she had struck,
closer and closer towards the shore. The order which he expected
quickly came.
"Stand from under," shouted Mr Saunders. Some of the men sprang below,
others forward. We, the officers, rushed aft. The carpenter, with his
mates, and the boatswain, stood ready, with their gleaming axes in their
hands.
"Cut!" cried the captain.
The shrouds were severed at one side, then the axes descended. A few
strokes, and the masts in rapid succession fell overboard. We had all
been so engaged in this operation that we had not watched our enemies.
We now saw the line-of-battle ship signalling the frigates. Shortly
after they were seen to stand in, apparently for the object of attacking
us.
"It must be done," cried Captain Macnamara. "Lads, I'm sorry to say we
must leave our stout ship. We must not allow her, however, to fall into
the hands of the enemy. Get your clothes, and anything you value most,
as I have resolved to destroy her."
Every one now hurried below to get their clothes, and such other things
as they desired to preserve. The purser appeared with the ship's
papers, the master with the ship's log, and the captain with a few
instruments. Muskets and ammunition, pistols and cutlasses, were then
served out, so that we might have the means of resisting the enemy
should they attempt to land. All were now ready for embarking. He
would allow none of us to take larger sized packages than the men were
permitted to carry away. The crew were now all told off to take their
places in the boats. The midshipmen and boys, as in the case of fire or
shipwreck, were sent first. Larry was in my boat.
"It's a sad day this, Mr Terence, which I never thought to see," he
said; "but arrah! I've not forgotten my fiddle, and it will be mighty
convenient to cheer the hearts of our poor fellows when we get ashore."
Most of the men took the matter very philosophically. Those who
suffered most were the unfortunate wounded, who had previously been
lowered into the boats, with the surgeons to look after them. Our two
prisoners, Dubois and La Touche, had, I fancied, formed some plan for
remaining on board, but a hint from Rough-and-Ready made them very
quickly follow me into the boat, accompanied by a marine.
"Take care, Finnahan, those two foreigners don't give you the slip,"
shouted the first lieutenant. "Let them understand that they must
remain under charge of the sentry, and that if they give leg-bail he has
orders to shoot them. Now shove off."