which usually hung there. He called for a light, when, to his horror, he
found the body of his old and faithful valet lying in it, dead and cold,
with a knife sticking under his fifth rib--no doubt intended for his
master. The speaker was Bolivar. About midnight, Mr Treenail returned, we
shook hands with Mr-----, and once more shoved off; and, guided by the
lights shown on board the Torch, we were safe home again by three in the
morning, when we immediately made sail, and nothing particular happened
until we arrived within a day's sail of New Providence. It seemed, that
about a week before, a large American brig, bound from Havanna to Boston,
had been captured in this very channel by one of our men--of--war
schooners, and carried into Nassau; out of which port, for their own
security, the uthorities had fitted a small schooner, carrying six guns
and twenty--four men. She was commanded by a very gallant fellow--there
is no disputing that--and he must needs emulate the conduct of the officer
who had made the capture--for in a fine clear night, when all the officers
were below rummaging in their kits for the killing things they should
array themselves in on the morrow, so as to smite the Fair of New
Providence to the heart at a blow--Whiss--a shot flew over our mast--head.

"A small schooner lying--to right ahead, sir," sung out the boatswain from
the forecastle.

Before we could beat to quarters, another sung between our masts. We kept
steadily on our course, and as we approached our pigmy antagonist, he bore
up. Presently we were alongside of him.

"Heave--to," hailed the strange sail; "heave--to or I'll sink you."

The devil you will, you midge, thought I.