He dreamed, however, that he heard the guns firing, and the crew shouting, and that he got up and found that the frigate had taken the Frenchman.
Meantime, however, the wind falling light, the frigate made but slow progress, though she still kept the enemy in sight.
When Bill really awoke, the light was streaming down through the fore-hatchway. He roused up Jack, as there was no one below to call them, and on going on deck they discovered the crew at their quarters, and the French frigate almost within range of their guns.
She was to leeward, for the wind was still in its former quarter, and she had just then hauled up and backed her main-topsail to await their coming.
She was now seen to carry four more guns than the Thisbe, and to be apparently considerably larger, her bright, polished sides showing that she had not been long out of harbour.
When a ship goes into action, sail is generally shortened, but Captain Martin kept all the Thisbe’s set, and stood on, bearing down directly for the enemy.
Jack had been sent to join the other boys, who were employed in bringing up the powder as required from the magazine, but the first lieutenant directed Bill to remain near him.
Jack took his seat as a matter of course on his tub, and, as it happened, next to Tom.
“How are you feeling?” asked Tom, who looked rather pale.
“Much as I generally do, only I am rather peckish,” answered Jack. “I wish we had had time for breakfast before thrashing the mounseers, but I hope that won’t take us very long.”