I began seriously to fear that we were getting the worst of it. Shot
after shot came crashing on board, and several more men were brought
down. I expressed my fears aloud to the surgeon. A poor fellow already
on the table about to undergo amputation overheard me. "Don't think of
that, sir," he exclaimed; "they are tough ones, those mounseers, but
we'll go down with our colours flying sooner than strike them."
At that instant our ears were saluted by loud cheers, which burst from
the crew on deck. Still the firing was kept up, and it was evident that
our ship continued in action. At last, another wounded man being
brought down, we heard that the _Renomme_, the French commodore's
frigate, had struck.
In a few minutes another cheer was heard, the firing ceased, and we had
the satisfaction of finding that the _Clorinde_ had also struck her
colours to us. My heart felt intense relief when I found that the
action was over, and that my young brother had escaped without a wound.
Then I recollected that those who had been killed had not been brought
below. I wondered that he had not come below to relieve my anxiety.
Those of whom I inquired could not tell me what officers had been
killed. The instant, therefore, I could leave the poor suffering
fellows I had undertaken to assist, I hurried on deck. When I went
below the frigate had presented a trim and orderly appearance. Now her
sails were torn and full of shot-holes, her running rigging hung in
loose festoons, with blocks swaying here and there, her bulwarks were
shattered, her lately clean deck ploughed up with round shot covered
with blood and gore, and blackened by powder. The thickening shades of
evening threw a peculiar gloom over the whole scene. I looked anxiously
round for William. I could not see him. My heart sank within me.
Could he be among the slain? A midshipman hurried past me.
"Where is Braithwaite, my brother?" I asked, in a trembling voice.
"There; don't you see him on the forecastle?"
I looked in the direction to which he pointed. My heart bounded up
again as I saw him directing the men engaged in bending a fresh
foresail, which had before concealed him from my sight. My voice
trembled with emotion as I ran forward, and, shaking him by the hand,
congratulated him on our victory and his safety. He seemed scarcely to
understand my agitation.
"Yes, I am thankful to say we have thrashed the enemy, and I wish there
were a few more to treat in the same way. There is one fellow making
off, and I am afraid the _Astrea_ will not be able to work up to bring
her to action."
I looked out as he spoke. One of our frigates, to which he pointed, was
a long way to leeward, while a French frigate was standing under all
sail to the north-west. Our two antagonists appeared fearfully
shattered, both the French commodore's ship and the _Clorinde_, which
was even in a worse condition than we were. All our boats had been so
injured by shot that we were unable to send one to take possession of
our prize, and as the night was now rapidly coming on, we could not hope
to do much to repair damages till the morning. As long, however, as the
men could work, the carpenter's crew continued putting the ship to
rights. The rest of the already overworked crew were then piped below,
that they might be able to renew their labours on the morrow. I had
plenty to do in assisting the surgeons in attending on the wounded, till
at last, well wearied out, I turned into my hammock, thankful that my
dear brother and I had escaped the perils of the fight, and sincerely
hoping that, as it was my first battle, so it might be the last in which
I should be engaged. Before going below I took a look towards our
prize, whose light I saw burning brightly at no great distance from us.
I had now time to think of my own affairs, and of course was not a
little anxious about the fate of the _Barbara_, for it was too probable
that she had fallen into the hands of the Frenchmen. If so, they would
probably have sent her to France, as she was well provisioned for a long
voyage, or to one of their settlements, where she could be disposed of
to advantage. My sleep was sadly disturbed with these thoughts and with
the scenes of pain and suffering I had witnessed. I awoke soon after it
was light, and dressing quickly went on deck. It was to find everybody
there in a state of no small anger and vexation.
"She is off, gone clean out of sight," I heard people saying.