Then came a hail from the brigantine in French: "Keep off or we will sink you!" No reply was made.

They were but two hundred yards away when there were two bright flashes from the stern of the brigantine, and a shower of bullets splashed round the boats.

There were two or three cries of pain, and George Lechmere felt Frank give a sudden start.
"Are you hit, sir ?" "I have got a bullet in my left shoulder, George, but it is of no consequence.
"Row on, lads," he shouted.

"We shall be alongside before they have time to load again.
"I never thought of their having guns, though," he went on, as the men recovered from their surprise, and dashed on again with a cheer.

"By the sharp crack they must be brass.