In making his dispositions for the fight, however, Sir Frederick had not disdained the counsels of men older and more experienced than himself.  Cuffe had given him much good advice, before they parted, and Winchester and Strand had been particularly recommended to him as seamen whose suggestions might turn out to be useful.

“I send a master’s-mate named Clinch, in charge of one of our boats, too, Dashwood,” added the senior captain, as he concluded his remarks; “who is one of the most experienced seamen in the Proserpine.  He has seen much boat-service, and has always behaved himself well.  A vile practice of drinking has kept the poor fellow under; but he is now determined to make an effort, and I beg you will put him forward to-day, that he may have a chance.  Jack Clinch has the right sort of stuff in him, if opportunities offer to bring it out.”

“I flatter myself, Cuffe, that all hands will meet with opportunity enough,” answered Sir Frederick, in his drawling way; “for I intend to put ’em all in together, like a thorough pack coming in at the death.  I’ve seen Lord Echo’s harriers so close, at the end of a long chase, that you might have covered the whole with this ship’s main-course; and I intend it shall be so with our boats to-day.  By the way, Cuffe, that would be a pretty figure for a despatch, and would make Bronte smile—­ha!—­wouldn’t it?”

“D—­n the figure, the harriers, and the despatch, too, Dashwood; first win the day, before you begin to write poetry about it.  Bronte, as you call Nelson, has lightning in him, as well as thunder, and there isn’t an admiral in the service who cares less for blood and private rank than himself.  The way to make him smile is to do a thing neatly and well.  For God’s sake, now, be careful of the men;—­we are short-handed as it is, and can’t afford such another scrape as that off Porto Ferrajo.”

“Never fear for us, Cuffe; you’ll never miss the men I shall expend.”

Every captain had a word to say to his officers; but none other worth recording, with the exception of what passed between Lyon and his first lieutenant.

“Ye’ll remember, Airchy, that a ship can have a reputation for economy, as well as a man.  There’s several of our own countrymen about the Admiralty just now; and next to courage and enterprise, they view the expenditures with the keenest eyes.  I’ve known an admiral reach a red ribbon just on that one quality; his accounts showing cheaper ships and cheaper squadrons than any in the sairvice.  Ye’ll all do your duties, for the honor o’ Scotland; but there’s six or seven Leith and Glasgow lads in the boats, that it may be as well not to let murder themselves, out of a’ need.  I’ve put the whole of the last draft from the river guard-ship into the boats, and with them there’s no great occasion to be tender.  They’re the sweepings of the Thames and Wapping; and quite half of them would have been at Botany Bay before this, had they not been sent here.”