Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/276

 hours: you cannot save her, for you cannot get at her leaks."

I now did indeed see the necessity of stopping the boat; but it was too late: she was out of sight. The lanthorn, the signal for her return, had been hauled down, a proof that she had got on board. I hoisted two lights at the mizen peak, and ordered a musket to be fired; but, unfortunately, the cartridges had either not been put in the boat which brought me, or they had been taken back in her. One of my lights went out; the other was not seen by the frigate. We hoisted another light, but it gained no notice: the ship had evidently made sail. I stood after her as fast as I could, in hopes of her seeing us that night, or taking us out the next morning, should we be afloat. But my vessel, deeply laden, was already getting water-logged, and would not sail on a wind more than four miles an hour. Ali hope in that quarter vanished. I then endea-