cloud of studdingsails were blown from the yards as if the booms had been
carrots; and to prove that the chase was keeping a bright look--out, she
immediately kept away, and finally bore up dead before the wind, under the
impression, no doubt, that she would draw a--head of us, from her gear
being entire, before we could rig out our light sails again.

And so she did for a time, but at length we got within gun--shot. The
American masters were now ordered below, the hatches were clapped on, and
the word passed to see all clear. Our shot was by this time flying over
and over her, and it was evident she was not a man--of--war. We peppered
away--she could not even be a privateer; we were close under her
lee--quarter, and yet she had never fired a shot; and her large swaggering
Yankee ensign was now run up to the peak, only to be hauled down the next
moment. Hurrah! a large cotton ship, from Charlestown to Bourdeaux, prize
to H.M.S. Torch.

She was taken possession of, and proved to be the Natches, of four hundred
tons burden, fully loaded with cotton.

By the time we got the crew on board, and the second lieutenant, with a
prize crew of fifteen men, had taken charge, the weather began to lour
again, nevertheless we took the prize in tow, and continued on our voyage
for the next three days, without any thing particular happening. It was
the middle watch, and I was sound asleep, when I was startled by a violent
jerking of my hammock, and a cry "that the brig was amongst the breakers."
I ran on deck in my shirt, where I found all hands, and a scene of
confusion such as I never had witnessed before. The gale had increased,
yet the prize had not been cast off, and the consequence was, that by some
mismanagement or carelessness, the swag of the large ship had suddenly hove
the brig in the wind, and taken the sails a--back. We accordingly fetched