"I always loved my country," said Jem, as a second shot passed over them; "it is my birth-place-the land where my parents live; but I shall see it and them much sooner by being taken by the French, than remaining with you; and as for the cutter"-the boy cast an affectionate look at her-" perhaps we may part and perhaps not."

A third shot passed through the maintopsail, and the men, except the sail-trimmers, were ordered to their quarters.

"I will make no promises," said the captain, hurriedly, as he again approached the lad; "trust to my honour.-You surely would not like to see this ship in possession of the enemy, and these fine fellows confined in a jail."

Jem cast his eyes fore-and-aft, then looked at the cutter, next at the Frenchman, and lastly at the captain, who awaited his reply. He then slowly rose from his position, and calling one of the smugglers to him, he whispered him for a moment, and both walked aft to the wheel.

"Will you trust to me, sir?" asked young Jem with firmness, as he ran his sight along the line of breakers.

The captain looked doubtingly as he answered "I hardly know what to say to it; you have been neither civil nor courteous-you may intend mischief."

"I rely on your honour, sir," returned Jem, "why should you suspect mine? Besides, what good can I do if nobody means to obey me. Come and stand by the binnacle yourself; you will need your trumpet, too, for the roar of waters will outscold all the admirals and captains in the service." He paused for a moment as he again looked at the boiling and foaming surge, and then threw a glance up to windward at the enemy. The captain stood irresolute.

"Every moment is precious," continued the lad to the first lieutenant, who had remained an astonished spectator; "we shall require smartness and attention, but pray give the gentleman a few peppercorns, if its only for the honour of the flag, afore we bid him goodbye."

All this was uttered with such perfect confidence, that the officer could not forbear laughing as he turned to his superior, who, though greatly angered, was, nevertheless, much amused by the boy's coolness and assumption of command. "Stand by your guns upon the main deck!" shouted the captain," and take steady aim, my men."

"Don't fire yet," said Jem, "let him come a little closer first, and when I clap the helm hard up, then let fly. But wave the cutter after us, and we shall want all hands on deck as soon as you have delivered your broadside."

The youth took his station a few rattlins up the weather-mizen rigging with a trumpet in his hand, and five minutes more of intense anxiety was suffered to elapse-the rocks were not many fathoms distant, the seventy-four was within good range of the frigate, and her consorts were fast coming up. The captain of the Iphigenia intently watched the youth, whose calm collected countenance showed no particle of apprehension-he smiled and nodded to the smugglers when

he saw the cutter close on their quarter, attending to the frigate's motions-the first lieutenant's-in fact, every eye was fixed upon him. Suddenly he sung out loud and shrill, "Stand by, sir," the order was repeated below, and the next instant his voice was heard, "Hard up with the helm-jam it to windard-hurrah!"

"Point your guns well at the object," shouted the captain, "make every shot tellFire!"

A rattling broadside, almost simultaneous, sent a shower of iron at the advancing foethe Iphigenia promptly answered the control of the rudder, and her head receded from the wind-the smoke blew off to leeward, and they could see the maintopmast of the seventy-four dragging over the side, and the fore-yard hanging a cockbill in the slings.

"Well behaved," roared the captain, as he looked up with undisguised gratification at the hardy boy, who seemed to treat the matter with great unconcern. "Well behaved, my men-a few more such broadsides and we should have unrigged him. Secure

the guns by the tackles, and every soul on deck to his station."

"Ay, ay, that will do," said Jem, "and they must bear a hand about it too. Steady, steady at the helm. Keep her as she goes."

In a few minutes the orders were obeyed. They were now close to the rocks, but running on a parallel line with the breakers. The seventy-four had, no doubt, been astonished at the temerity of her diminutive opponent, and at first merely kept on her way without returning a shot.

"I don't altogether understand the handling of square yards, sir," said Jem, addressing the captain, "because I have been most accustomed to a cutter, but we shall want to haul up about three points to port presently, and when I sing out to shift the helm, you must trim the sails, and we shall want all the body canvass she can carry."

The captain flourished his hand, and uttered the word "stations"-silence instantly prevailed, and every man was at his appointed duty.

"The line-of-battle ship is rounding-to,