Each day brought home to them their bitter sorrow more powerfully than before, and each hour but deepened the anguish in their hearts.
"Why, what is this?
What has happened?
The transport is safe, you said," continued the general, in some anxiety.

"What is it ?" "I can tell, if your honor pleases, sir," said the deep voice of Bentley.
"Speak, man, speak." "It happened this way, sir: we were off Cape Cod, heading northwest by west for Boston, about a week ago, close hauled on the starboard tack in a half gale of wind.

Your honor knows what the starboard tack is ?" "Yes, yes, certainly; go on." "When about three bells in the afternoon watch,--your honor knows what three bells--Ay, ay, sir," continued the seaman, noting the general's impatient nod.

"Well, sir, we spied a large sail coming down on us fast; we ran off free, she following.

Pretty soon we made her out a frigate, a heavy frigate of thirty-six guns, and a fast one too, for she rapidly overhauled us.