Enraged at the audacity of the Vengeance, the Virginie, by a masterly manœuvre, shot ahead, and, suddenly wearing, caught the Vengeance in stays, and, for the moment, not caring for the fire of the Onyx, poured a deadly broadside into the lugger, intending to sink her. The iron shower passed over the Vengeance like a thunder storm, leaving her totally dismasted; but, singular to say, killing only one man and wounding three, a splinter, unfortunately, knocking down Master Burdett, as he sprang out of the way of the falling wreck. The brave youth was carried down into the cabin, and then Lieutenant Thornton, seeing he could do nothing more with the Vengeance, ordered out the two boats left uninjured, saying—
“Now, my lads, as we can do nothing here, let us pull on board your old ship; they are short-handed, and we may be of some service yet.”
A loud cheer testified their eagerness to help their old commander; the boats were got out, and Captain O’Loughlin, seeing their intention, wore round, and, in five minutes, they were alongside, and up upon the deck, where they were gladly received.
Captain O’Loughlin’s left arm was in a sling, Lieutenant Pole was below, severely wounded, so that the arrival of their friends was most opportune, our hero taking the post of first lieutenant at once. Bill Saunders was received by his comrades with a hearty welcome. There were six or eight of the crew of the Fox schooner left on board the Vengeance. Our hero told on leaving, to get her before the wind, under any sail they could manage to hoist on the stumps of their masts; for he had no doubt, notwithstanding the superior force of the Virginie, the Onyx would yet gain the day. The French frigate, by this time, had a second time hauled up on her starboard tack, and thought to deliver her broadside with a raking effect; but the Onyx, with fresh spirit, having repaired her rigging sufficiently, was ready for her. Led by two as brave and skilful officers as any in the Royal Navy, noted for having one of the best disciplined crews in the service, Captain O’Loughlin promptly threw her sails aback, and prevented the Virginie taking the favourable position she intended.
The manœuvre brought the Virginie with her stern actually pressing against the quarter of the Onyx, both crafts lying nearly in a parallel direction. The instant the two ships came in contact, each prepared to board the other. Lieutenant Thornton, with a picked band, and with Julian Arden by his side, sprang to repel the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, who eagerly thought to overpower the boarders of the Onyx. A desperate contest ensued. Twice did our hero, who appeared to have a charmed life, plant his foot upon the Virginie’s deck, and twice was his gallant band driven back by the great superiority of numbers. Julian was felled by the butt of a musket, but Bill Saunders, with a cheer, dashed headlong amidst the press, and catching him in his arms bore him safely to the corvette. The Onyx’s marines kept up an incessant fire of musketry, which drove back the Virginie’s, though her marines, stationed along the whole length of the larboard gangway, kept up an incessant fire into the stern windows of the Onyx, strewing the cabin deck with killed and wounded.
“You must get a main-deck gun,” said Lieutenant Thornton to Captain O’Loughlin, “and put it into the port of the cabin window; I see it is cut down for that purpose.”
“Yes,” said O’Loughlin, “though contrary to the strict rules of the service, I cut down the sill of the cabin window on each side next the quarter. You will find the gunner has tackles and everything ready for transporting the gun to the new port, but it’s a perilous duty, dear friend.”
“Never mind that,” said our hero, and calling Bill, and selecting a crew, with the gunner and his tackle, the gun was run out and, with a hearty cheer, fired. The very first discharge proved the great value of this new port, for, as was afterwards ascertained, four-and-twenty of the Virginie’s crew were laid low; it actually swept the ship from her larboard bow to her larboard quarter, and was fearful in its effects. Meantime the musketry on both sides continued with terrible effect. A ball from the main-top of the French ship unfortunately struck O’Loughlin to the deck; it was a severe wound, but not mortal. He was just able to say—
“I give the command of the ship to Lieutenant Thornton, of the Diamond, as gallant an officer as ever breathed. Fight, my lads, as long as the old girl floats!”
A cheer and a “God bless you!” passed from all as their gallant captain was carried below.