"It's a regular built go, Sir," replied

Ben.

"Go, then, and bring the rest of the men cautiously here, and we will lie in wait for a fair opportunity," said Morland; who soon afterwards saw his men crawling, one after another, among the shrubs and grass, and place themselves by his side.

It was arranged that they should wait till the crew of the vessel, whose voices were distinctly heard from where they lay in ambush, should go below to their evening meal, and then board her in the skiffs.

we 'll

"Yes," said Ben to his companions, board her in the smoke, my boys; though, by my faith, I think there will little come from my pistol !"

The evening advanced, the crout bell rang. "Make ready, men!" said Morland. "Look

out! Now's our time, they're all below! Down to the beach, and launch the skiffsfour in one, three in the other, and make for

the main channels. She will be ours in ten

minutes !"

That short space of time had scarcely elapsed when both skiffs were alongside the vessel. A man who just then came on deck gave the alarm, but it was too late. The deck was gained, the fore and main-hatches were thrown down, and the captain of the vessel, as he was about to step on the quarterdeck, met the muzzle of Ben's pistol, which flashing, or rather fizzing, in the pan, the resolute tar fetched the unfortunate skipper such a blow with the barrel in the face, that he fell bleeding and rattling down the ladder he had so boldly ascended, and the after-hatch was instantly secured.

The galliot was now in their possession, but they appeared to be quite landlocked, without knowing any thing of the navigation.

"Hoist the vessel's own colours at the fore,

for a pilot," said Morland;

fisherman may chance to see it.

some stray

Loose the

topsail, jib, and mizen; there is a fine breeze, and if no pilot arrives, we must run all risks: the passage must lie to the S.E."

A fisherman, however, did arrive. His boat was cut adrift, and he was made to understand, by various determined gestures, and Ben's most persuasive, though speechless pistol, that if he did not steer the vessel safely out, he would be shot on the spot.

The longboat was brought alongside, and, man by man, the prisoners, to the number of eight, were put into it with two oars, and then sent adrift.

The sails were set, the cable cut, and the vessel, swinging briskly round, was steered away by the trembling pilot through the intricate passages of this dangerous coast.

The captors had numerous hardships and difficulties to contend with in these narrow seas, fretted as they were by dangerous rocks, and now foaming again under the influence of another equinoctial gale; but, suffice it to say,

the vessel was conducted safely to the frigate, and Morland highly commended for his zeal and perseverance, not only by his captain, but by every officer on board, and especially the lieutenant, under whose command he had been dispatched, and who had also returned successful. The enthusiastic greetings of his messmates must not be forgotten, nor the delight they seemed to experience at the unadorned tale, which was told many times before they left the regions of the Baltic,

NOTE.-Lest the reader should think this an overdrawn or Quixotic picture of naval enterprize, the author begs to inform him, that, during the war, he witnessed the capture of two merchant vessels, their joint number of men amounting to sixteen, by a similar force, and with as little bloodshed as that described above. Such success, like that of robbers, is often derived from panic rendering the astonished crews, like frightened families, easy victims to the audacious plunderers.

CHAPTER XIV.

Austracions Hoge in thy sweet garden grow,
Teachs for each tel, a charm for every woe.

CAMPBELL.

Tax remaining part of Morland Dunstanville's servitude as midshipman was passed in most active employment against the enemies of his country, and at the expiration of his sxt year in that capacity, he proceeded on board H. M. S. Gladiator, to be examined, as to his professional qualifications, by three of the senior post-captains of the fleet at Portsmouth.

That morning of anxiety arrived, and we are not quite sure whether Morland had determined never again to return to his ship,