CHAPTER III.

Like Leviathans afloat,

Lay the bulwarks on the brine,
While the sign of battle flew
On the lofty British line;

It was ten of April morn, by the chime:

As they drifted on their path,

There was silence deep as death,

And the boldest held his breath
For a time.

T. CAMPBELL.

TIME wore on, and the fleet made Ceylon, when one morning at day-break, three strange sails were observed from the mast head. The extra ships in company with the regular Indiamen, unable to go into the Cape, had proceeded upon their voyage, intending, if the weather permitted, to take the Mozambique Channel, and stop at the beautiful little island of Johanna for water and other refreshments.

As peace had not yet been proclaimed, the sight of strangers excited some alarm, and the

Commodore made signal to set all sail, but they soon found, notwithstanding every sail they could crowd, that the strange vessels gained fast upon them, and, as they appeared to alter their course and bear down, they had no doubt but they were in chase. The Cumberland sailed so heavily that the Commodore had no other alternative but to shorten sail, or leave her behind.

As their pursuers became more distinctly visible, they saw from their size and build that they were frigates, and had every reason to believe them to be French. The drums on board the Indiaman beat to arms, the men were called to quarters, and the Company's troops were paraded under their own officers, who according to seniority commanded on the poop and forecastle; Colonel Howard upon the former, and Captain Bently upon the latter. Captain Kentledge with his brave seamen, kept the deck guns primed and loaded, and matches ready. All the gentlemen passengers, civil as well as military, armed themselves from the store of muskets, cutlasses, and pistols, with

which the cuddy, like an armoury, was surrounded. Even the servants provided themselves for the defence they would soon be called upon to make; while the ladies looked on with painful apprehension, anxiously waiting every report from deck.

After having marshalled his men, Colonel Howard came down for a moment, and endeavoured to allay their terrors, by telling them, though it was wise to be prepared, still there was no certainty that they should engage. “The strange sails may possibly prove English frigates, chasing us in the idea we are enemies." Charlotte Percy looked at her uncle, endeavouring to discover whether he actually thought as he spoke; while a tear ran down her pale cheek. Elizabeth took his hand, and clung to him, as if for protection. At this moment Bently hurried in to say, "The ladies must go below, Colonel Howard;" and he added in a low voice," they are three French frigates ; they have hoisted their colours, and are almost within shot of us." Though this intelligence was given in an under tone, it did not escape

the watchful ears which it was not meant to reach. Miss Percy clasped her hands for a moment in the attitude of fervent prayer, and summoning all her resolution to her aid, resolved to spare her uncle. Elizabeth hid her face on his shoulder, while the Miss Owens screamed aloud, and begged in frantic terror that he would not leave them. Miss Panton, on the first intimation of danger, fled like a frighted doe, jumped into her cot, and hid her head in the bed clothes, as if by shutting out sight and sound she could remove the cause of her apprehensions. Miss Hume, who had no male relative on board whose danger could distract her attention, struggled with her own feelings, that she might support her friends. Colonel Howard, anxiously disengaging himself, tried to comfort them, and assured them that there was no cause for their terror and distress; adding, "you must not, my dear girls, suffer your spirits to sink in this way; we shall I am certain be able to give a good account of the Frenchmen. You know we are stout ships, well manned; so go below, and do not be alarmed;

we should beat them if they were twice as many." Here the Purser, with the keys of the bread-room in his hand, told them there was not a moment to be lost; the ladies must go below instantly. Doctor Pillett followed him, carrying in one hand all the sal volatile and eau de luce which in his confusion he could find, and in the other, his beloved " Johnson's Dictionary," which he had hastily and instinctively grasped. Miss Percy, and Miss Hume, begged that at least they might be permitted to remain in the great cabin, where they could hear news of what was going forward, and have air and day-light. But the Purser declared, that "it was the Captain's order that they should go to the bread-room, as the only place of safety for them, that was at that moment to spare." Colonel Howard again affectionately entreated them to bear up, and ran upon deck, to lose in active duty the anxieties, which (for their sakes), though he strove to conceal them, preyed upon his heart. The thought of a French prison for them, was more than he could well bear. Before he left the poop, he had observed the Com