Paul Gerrard | Page 6

of myself;
have all my once brave thoughts and aspirations come to this? I will be
up and do my duty, and not mind Sam Coulson, or the enemy's shot, or
anything else." Such were the thoughts which rapidly passed through
his mind; he sprang to his feet, and, as he hoped, unobserved reached

the main-deck. He fortunately remembered that his friend Reuben Cole
was captain of one of the main-deck guns, and that Reuben had told
him that that was the gun he was to serve. The deck was well lighted up
by the fighting-lanterns, and he had thus no difficulty in finding out his
friend. The men, mostly stripped to their waists, stood grouped round
their guns with the tackles in their hands, the captains holding the slow
matches ready to fire. Paul ran up to Reuben, who was captain of his
gun.
"What am I to do?" he asked; "you said you would tell me."
"So I will, lad; and I am glad to see you, for I was afraid that you had
come to harm," answered Reuben, in a kind tone. "I said as how I was
sure you wasn't one to skulk. Where was you, boy?"
Paul felt conscience-stricken, and he dared not answer; for utter a
falsehood to excuse himself he would not. "Tell me what I am to do,
and I'll try to do it," he said, at length.
"Why, then, do you go down with Tom Buckle to the powder-magazine
with that tub there, and get it filled and come back and sit on it till we
wants it," replied his friend, who possibly might have suspected the
truth.
"Then I am about to take part in a real battle," thought Paul, as,
accompanying the boy Tom Buckle, he ran down to the magazine. In a
moment, sickness, fatigue, and fear were banished. He was the
true-hearted English Boy, and he felt as brave as he could wish, and
regardless of danger. Paul knew he was doing his duty. His tub was
quickly filled, and he was soon again at Reuben's gun, behind which he
was told to sit--one of a row of boys employed in the same manner.
Many of his companions were laughing and joking, as if nothing
unusual was occurring, or as if it was impossible that a shot could find
them out.
Paul was now, for the first time, able to make inquiries as to the state of
affairs. Reuben told him that, at about midnight, the lights of two ships
had been seen. It was possible that they might be those of the look-out

frigates of an enemy's squadron, at the same time as they might be
British, and as Captain Walford had resolved that nothing should drive
him back, the Cerberus was kept on her course. Whatever they were,
the strangers seemed determined to become better acquainted. As they
drew nearer, signals were exchanged; but those of the stranger's were
not understood. The drum on this beat to quarters, and the ship was
prepared for battle. The two ships approached, and soon gave the
Cerberus a taste of their quality by pouring their broadsides into her;
but, in consequence of the heavy sea which was then running, very few
of their shot had taken effect. Two, however, which had struck her hull,
had passed through the bulwarks and killed two of her men, whose
bodies now lay stark and stiff on the main-deck, near where they had
stood as their mates were now standing, full of life and manly strength.
Paul's eyes fell on them. It was the first time he had seen death in its
most hideous form. He shuddered and turned sick. Reuben observed the
direction in which his glance was turned.
"Paul, my lad, you mustn't think of them now," he cried out. "They've
done their duty like men, and it's our business to try to do ours. We've
got some pretty sharp work before us; but it's my belief that we'll beat
off our enemies, or take one or both of them, maybe. Hurrah! lads.
That's what we've got to do."
The crews of the guns within hearing uttered a cheerful response. "All
ready!"
"Let 'em come on!"
"The more the merrier!"
"We'll give 'em more than we'll take!"
These, and similar expressions, were heard from the seamen, while now
and then a broad joke or a loud laugh burst from the lips of the more
excited among them. But there was no Dutch courage exhibited. One
and all showed the most determined and coolest bravery. The officers
whose duty it was to be on the main-deck kept going their rounds, to
see that the men were at their stations, and that all were supplied with

powder and shot and all things necessary. Then the