raked her; but the Onyx’s men, throwing themselves flat upon the deck, suffered but little. The Vengeance passed across the bows of the Onyx, pouring the contents of her eighteen-pound carronades, crammed with grape and canister, into the quarter of the Virginie, shattering her quarter galley, and besides wounding several of her men, cut the sheets of her mainsail so that the sail blew out unrestrained. A loud cheer burst from the crew of the Onyx, and Captain O’Loughlin, springing into the mizen shrouds, waved his hat to our hero, who was standing, returning his greeting, on the carriage of a gun. Enraged at the audacity of the Vengeance, the Virginie, by a masterly manœuvre, shot ahead, and, suddenly wearing, caught the Vengeance in stays, and, for the moment, not caring for the fire of the Onyx, poured a deadly broadside into the lugger, intending to sink her. The iron shower passed over the Vengeance like a thunder storm, leaving her totally dismasted; but, singular to say, killing only one man and wounding three, a splinter, unfortunately, knocking down Master Burdett, as he sprang out of the way of the falling wreck. The brave youth was carried down into the cabin, and then Lieutenant Thornton, seeing he could do nothing more with the Vengeance, ordered out the two boats left uninjured, saying— “Now, my lads, as we can do nothing here, let us pull on board your old ship; they are short-handed, and we may be of some service yet.” A loud cheer testified their eagerness to help their old commander; the boats were got out, and Captain O’Loughlin, seeing their intention, wore round, and, in five minutes, they were alongside, and up upon the deck, where they were gladly received. Captain O’Loughlin’s left arm was in a sling, Lieutenant Pole was below, severely wounded, so that the arrival of their friends was most opportune, our hero taking the post of first lieutenant at once. Bill Saunders was received by his comrades with a hearty welcome. There were six or eight of the crew of the Fox schooner left on board the Vengeance. Our hero told on leaving, to get her before the wind, under any sail they could manage to hoist on the stumps of their masts; for he had no doubt, notwithstanding the superior force of the Virginie, the Onyx would yet gain the day. The French frigate, by this time, had a second time hauled up on her starboard tack, and thought to deliver her broadside with a raking effect; but the Onyx, with fresh spirit, having repaired her rigging sufficiently, was ready for her. Led by two as brave and skilful officers as any in the Royal Navy, noted for having one of the best disciplined crews in the service, Captain O’Loughlin promptly threw her sails aback, and prevented the Virginie taking the favourable position she intended.