"
"Don't dwell any more upon that portion of your history, Ready; but
tell us what took place after you sailed for the East Indies."
"Be it so, if you please. I certainly was very smart and active for my
age, and soon became a great favourite on board, especially with the
lady passengers, because I was such a little fellow. We arrived safely
at Bombay, where our passengers went on shore, and in three weeks
afterwards we sailed down the straits for China. It was war time, and
we were very often chased by French privateers; but as we had a good
crew and plenty of guns, none of them ventured to attack us, and we got
safe to Macao, where we unloaded our cargo and took in teas. We had to
wait some time for a convoy, and then sailed for England. When we were
off the Isle of France, the convoy was dispersed in a gale; and three
days afterwards, a French frigate bore down upon us, and after
exchanging a few broadsides, we were compelled to haul down our
colours. A lieutenant was sent on board with forty men to take charge
of us, for we were a very rich prize to them. The captain and most of
the crew were taken on board of the frigate, but ten Lascars and the
boys were left in the Indiaman, to assist in taking her into the Isle
of France, which was at that time in the hands of the French.
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