pressure of the _Cleopatra's_ jib-boom. Fortunately, the jib-boom broke,
and the _Cleopatra_ fell alongside the _Nymphe_, head and stern. The
mainmast was again in danger, from the _Cleopatra's_ larboard
maintopmast-studding-sail boom-iron hooking in the larboard leech-rope
of the main-topsail, and dragging the sail. Captain Pellew ordered some
active seaman to go out upon the yard, and free the sail, promising ten
guineas, if he succeeded; and a main-top-man, named Burgess, immediately
sprang out, and cut the leech-rope. Lieutenant Pellowe had been already
directed to drop the best bower-anchor, as a means of getting the ships
apart; and by the time half the prisoners had been removed, the prize
separated, and fell astern.

The crew fought with a steadiness and gallantry above all praise. A lad,
who had served in the _Winchelsea_ as barber's boy, was made second
captain of one of the main-deck guns. The captain being killed, he
succeeded to command the gun; and through the rest of the action,
Captain Pellew heard him from the gangway give the word for all the
successive steps of loading and pointing, as if they had been only in
exercise. In the heat of action, one of the men came from the main deck
to ask the captain what he must do, for that all the men at his gun were
killed or wounded but himself, and he had been trying to fight it alone,
but could not. Another, who had joined but the day before, was found
seated on a gun-carriage, complaining that he had been very well as long
as he was fighting, but that his sea sickness returned as soon as the
battle was over, and that he did not know what was the matter with his
leg, it smarted so much. It was found that the poor fellow had received
a musket ball in it.

The loss was severe on both sides, and, in proportion to the respective
crews, nearly equal. The _Nymphe_, out of a crew of 240, had 23 killed,