Captain Bull had lost his ship, but he had gained his reputation. From this time forth he was always named as one of the most active commanders on the station. The “Duke of Marlborough” replaced the “Grantham,” and in this famous Packet many notable people elected to make the voyage home to Falmouth, relying on the skill of her well known captain. So general indeed was the impression that the passage could be made with perfect safety on board the “Duke of Marlborough” that Sir Thomas Maitland, when his command in the Windward Islands expired, refused to go home in a frigate, declaring that he preferred to sail with Captain Bull. In April, 1804, the “Duke of Marlborough” was outward bound to the Leeward Islands; and, when about twenty-five leagues to the eastward of Barbados, she was chased by an armed schooner. Captain Bull altered the course of his ship, and made all sail to avoid an action, if possible; but at the end of an hour it was evident that the stranger ship was gaining ground. Her behaviour left little doubt that she was a Privateer out of one of the French islands; but, in order to settle the matter, Captain Bull made the private signal; and finding it remained unanswered he called his men to quarters. All preparations for the coming fight were completed long before the enemy came within range. The boarding nettings were triced up, and stuffed with hammocks and spare sails; the boat was cut away, so as not to impede the action of the stern guns; the mail was brought on deck, weighted with pigs of iron, and placed near one of the portholes, in charge of a sailor who was instructed to sink it instantly should the enemy appear likely to take the vessel; the small arms were served out; the men had their dinner, and were all at their posts when at about 3 P.M. the enemy came within range, and opened fire. A broadside from the “Duke of Marlborough” was the answer to this salute; and before the smoke of these discharges cleared away the Privateer was within pistol shot distance of the Packet, both running before the wind; and a very hot cannonade ensued. [Illustration: To face p. 128. H.M. PACKET, MARLBOROUGH.] A few minutes’ observation sufficed to show Captain Bull that he was in the hands of an enemy of much superior force. There were five guns on the schooner’s broadside, while the “Duke of Marlborough” had but three; and whenever he could get a view of his opponent’s deck, he saw it crowded with men, beside whom his little handful of thirty-two men and boys looked insignificant. But this was not the worst of it; for ere long musket balls began to rattle about the decks of the Packet. A passenger fell, shot through the head; a few minutes later a seaman was killed; and it was soon seen that no less than fifty riflemen were posted in the tops of the schooner, whence they were picking off any one who showed himself from under cover of the bulwarks.