However we may be inclined to extend our admiration to the feelings of self-devotion which governed the conduct of Captain M--- it cannot be a matter of surprise that the officers of the frigate did not coincide with his total indifference to self, in the discharge of his duty. Murmur they did not; but they looked at each other, at the captain, and at the perilous situation of the vessel, in silence, and with a restless change of position that indicated their anxiety. Macallan was below attending to the wounded men, or he would probably have been deputed by the others to have remonstrated with the captain. A few minutes more had elapsed, when the master again addressed him. "I am afraid, sir, if we continue to stand on, that we shall lose the frigate," said he, respectfully touching his hat. "Be it so," replied Captain M---; "the enemy will lose a line-of-battle ship; our country will be the gainer, when the account is balanced." "I must be permitted to doubt that, sir; the value of the enemy's ship is certainly greater; but there are other considerations." "What are they?" "The value of the respective officers and ships' companies, which must inevitably share the fate of the two vessels. The captain of that ship is not _worth his salt_. It would be politic to let him live, and continue to command. His ship will always be ours, when we want it; and in the event of a general action, he would make a gap in the enemy's line, which might prove of the greatest importance. Now, sir, without drawing the parallel any further,--without taking into consideration the value of the respective officers and men,--I must take the liberty of observing, that, on your account alone, England will be no gainer by the loss of both vessels and crews." "Thank you for the compliment, which, as it is only feather-weight, I will allow to be thrown into the scale. But I do not agree with you. I consider war but as a game of chess, and will never hesitate to sacrifice a _knight_ for a _castle_. Provided that _castle_ is lost, Mr Pearce," continued the captain, pointing to the French vessel--"this little frigate, if necessary, shall be _knight-errant_ enough to bear her company." "Very good, sir," replied Pearce, again touching his hat; "as master of this ship, I considered it my duty to state my opinion."