I thought
it hard that I was to go to prison at twelve years old; but I did not
care much about it, and very soon I was as gay and merry as ever. We
had made the island, and were on a wind beating up to the port, when a
vessel was seen to windward, and although I could not understand what
the Frenchmen said, I perceived that they were in a great fluster and
very busy with their spy-glasses, and Jack Romer, one of my brother
'prentices who had been three years at sea, said to me, `I don't think
we'll go to prison after all, Ready, for that vessel is an English
man-of-war, if I'm not mistaken.' At last she came down within three
miles of us, and hoisted English colours and fired a gun. The Frenchmen
put the ship before the wind, but it was of no use; the man-of-war came
up with us very fast, and then the Frenchmen began to pack up their
clothes, together with all the other things which they had collected
out of the property of our captain and crew; a shot was fired which
went clean over our heads, and then they left the helm, and Jack Romer
went to it, and, with my help, hove the ship up in the wind; a boat
came on board and took possession, and so there was one escape, at all
events.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208