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+Project Gutenberg's From Powder Monkey to Admiral, by W.H.G. Kingston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: From Powder Monkey to Admiral
+       A Story of Naval Adventure
+
+Author: W.H.G. Kingston
+
+Illustrator: Archibald Webb
+
+Release Date: May 9, 2007 [EBook #21404]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM POWDER MONKEY TO ADMIRAL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+From Powder Monkey to Admiral, a Story of Naval Adventure, by W.H.G.
+Kingston.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+This book was written for "Boy's Own Paper" shortly after that magazine
+started.  The plan was to write a book illustrating how it might be
+possible for any very ordinary little boy joining the Navy in the lowest
+rating--powder monkey--and ascend to the very highest rank--admiral.  It
+had been done before, in the separate cases of Benbow and Hopson, and
+there was no reason why it shouldn't happen again.  A powder monkey was
+so called because his job in manning the guns was to run from time to
+time to fetch more powder whenever it was needed.  Since the boys were
+small they afforded little target for the enemy's shot, so they tended
+to survive an engagement.  Just as well, for their job was
+indispensable.
+
+In this book three boys join up in the same batch.  They have the usual
+Kingston-style adventures, but only one of them makes it to the quarter
+deck to become a midshipman.  This was probably the hardest step for any
+of them, but it was his bravery, honesty and good manners that won for
+him the necessary attention.  At the end of the book there is a pathetic
+scene where we meet again the boy who did least well.  This is a good
+and enjoyable read or listen, taking about twelve and three quarter
+hours.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+FROM POWDER MONKEY TO ADMIRAL; A STORY OF NAVAL ADVENTURE, BY W.H.G.
+KINGSTON.
+
+Introduction.
+
+A book for boys by W.H.G.  Kingston needs no introduction.  Yet a few
+things may be said about the origin and the purpose of this story.
+
+When the _Boys' Own Paper_ was first started, Mr Kingston, who showed
+deep interest in the project, undertook to write a story of the sea,
+during the wars, under the title of "From Powder-monkey to Admiral."
+
+Talking the matter over, it was objected that such a story might offend
+peaceable folk, because it must deal too much with blood and gunpowder.
+Mr Kingston, although famed as a narrator of sea-fights, was a lover of
+peace, and he said that his story would not encourage the war spirit.
+Those who cared chiefly to read about battles might turn to the pages of
+"British Naval History."  He chose the period of the great war for his
+story, because it was a time of stirring events and adventures.  The
+main part of the narrative belongs to the early years of life, in which
+boys would feel most interest and sympathy.  And throughout the tale,
+not "glory" but "duty" is the object set before the youthful reader.
+
+It was further objected that the title of the story set before boys an
+impossible object of ambition.  The French have a saying, that "every
+soldier carries in his knapsack a marshal's baton," meaning that the way
+is open for rising to the very highest rank in their army.  But who ever
+heard of a sailor lad rising to be an Admiral in the British Navy?
+
+Let us see how history answers this question.  There was a great sea
+captain of other days, whose fame is not eclipsed by the glorious
+reputations of later wars, Admiral Benbow.  In the reign of Queen Anne,
+before the great Duke of Marlborough had begun his victorious career,
+Benbow had broken the power of France on the sea.  Rank and routine were
+powerful in those days, as now; but when a time of peril comes, the best
+man is wanted, and Benbow was promoted out of turn, by royal command, to
+the rank of Vice-Admiral, and went after the fleet of Admiral Ducasse to
+the West Indies.  In the little church of Saint Andrew's, Kingston,
+Jamaica, his body lies, and the memorial stone speaks of him as "a true
+pattern of English courage, who lost his life in defence of queen and
+country."
+
+Like his illustrious French contemporary Jean Bart, John Benbow was of
+humble origin.  He entered the merchant service when a boy.  He was
+unknown till he had reached the age of thirty, when he had risen to the
+command of a merchant vessel.  Attacked by a powerful Salee rover, he
+gallantly repulsed these Moorish pirates, and took his ship safe into
+Cadiz.  The heads of thirteen of the pirates he preserved, and delivered
+them to the magistrates of the town, in presence of the custom-house
+officers.  The tidings of this strange incident reached Madrid, and the
+King of Spain, Charles the Second, sent for the English captain,
+received him with great honour, and wrote a letter on his behalf to our
+King James the Second, who on his return to England gave him a ship.
+This was his introduction to the British Navy, in which he served with
+distinction in the reigns of William the Third and Queen Anne.  But his
+obscure origin is the point here under notice, and the following
+traditional anecdote is preserved in Shropshire:--When a boy he was left
+in charge of the house by his mother, who went out marketing.  The
+desire to go to sea, long cherished, was irresistible.  He stole forth,
+locking the cottage door after him, and hung the key on a hook in a tree
+in the garden.  Many years passed before he returned to the old place.
+Though now out of his reach, for the tree had grown faster than he, the
+key still hung on the hook.  He left it there; and there it remained
+when he came back as Rear-Admiral of the _White_.  He then pointed it
+out to his friends, and told the story.  Once more his country required
+his services, but his fame and the echo of his victories alone came over
+the wave.  The good town of Shrewsbury is proud to claim him as a son,
+and remembers the key, hung by the banks of the Severn, near Benbow
+House.  Whatever basis of truth the story may have, its being told and
+believed attests the fact of the humble birth and origin of Admiral
+Benbow.
+
+Another sailor boy, Hopson, in the early part of last century, rose to
+be Admiral in the British Navy.  Born at Bonchurch in the Isle of Wight,
+of humblest parentage, he was left an orphan, and apprenticed by the
+parish to a tailor.  While sitting one day alone on the shop-board, he
+was struck by the sight of the squadron coming round Dunnose.  Instantly
+quitting his work, he ran to the shore, jumped into a boat, and rowed
+for the Admiral's ship.  Taken on board, he entered as a volunteer.
+
+Next morning the English fleet fell in with a French squadron, and a
+warm action ensued.  Young Hopson obeyed every order with the utmost
+alacrity; but after two or three hours' fighting he became impatient,
+and asked what they were fighting for.  The sailors explained to him
+that they must fire away, and the fight go on, till the white rag at the
+enemy's mast-head was struck.  Getting this information, his resolution
+was formed, and he exclaimed, "Oh, if that's all, I'll see what I can
+do."
+
+The two ships, with the flags of the commanders on each side, were now
+engaged at close quarters, yard-arm and yard-arm, and completely
+enveloped in smoke.  This proved favourable to the purpose of the brave
+youth, who mounted the shrouds through the smoke unobserved, gained the
+French Admiral's main-yard, ascended with agility to the main-topgallant
+mast-head, and carried off the French flag.  It was soon seen that the
+enemy's colours had disappeared, and the British sailors, thinking they
+had been hauled down, raised a shout of "Victory, victory!"  The French
+were thrown into confusion by this, and first slackened fire, and then
+ran from their guns.  At this juncture the ship was boarded by the
+English and taken.  Hopson had by this time descended the shrouds with
+the French flag wrapped round his arm, which he triumphantly displayed.
+
+The sailors received the prize with astonishment and cheers of approval.
+The Admiral being told of the exploit, sent for Hopson and thus
+addressed him, "My lad, I believe you to be a brave youth.  From this
+day I order you to walk the quarter-deck, and if your future conduct is
+equally meritorious, you shall have my patronage and protection."
+Hopson made every effort to maintain the good opinion of his patron, and
+by his conduct and attention to duty gained the respect of the officers
+of the ship.  He afterwards went rapidly through the different ranks of
+the service, till at length he attained that of Admiral.
+
+We might give not a few instances of more recent date, but the families
+and friends of those "who have risen" do not always feel the same honest
+pride as the great men themselves in the story of their life.  While it
+is true that no sailor boy may now hope to become "Admiral of the
+Fleet," yet there is room for advancement, in peace as in war, to what
+is better than mere rank or title or wealth,--a position of honour and
+usefulness.  Good character and good conduct, pluck and patience,
+steadiness and application, will win their way, whether on sea or land,
+and in every calling.
+
+The inventions of modern science and art are producing a great change in
+all that pertains to life at sea.  The revolution is more apparent in
+war than in peace.  There is, and always will be, a large proportion of
+merchant ships under sail, even in nations like our own where steam is
+in most general use.  In war, a wooden ship without steam and without
+armour would be a mere floating coffin.  The fighting _Temeraire_, and
+the saucy _Arethusa_, and Nelson's _Victory_ itself, would be nothing
+but targets for deadly fire from active and irresistible foes.  The odds
+would be about the same as the odds of javelins and crossbows against
+modern fire-arms.  Steam alone had made a revolution in naval warfare;
+but when we add to this the armour-plating of vessels, and the terrible
+artillery of modern times, "the wooden walls of old England" are only
+fit to be used as store-ships or hospitals for a few years, and then
+sent to the ship-yards to be broken up for firewood.  But though
+material conditions have changed, the moral forces are the same as ever,
+and courage, daring, skill, and endurance are the same in ships of oak
+or of iron:--
+
+  "Yes, the days of our wooden walls are ended,
+  And the days of our iron ones begun;
+  But who cares by what our land's defended,
+  While the hearts that fought and fight are one?
+  'Twas not the oak that fought each battle,
+  'Twas not the wood that victory won;
+  'Twas the hands that made our broadsides rattle,
+  'Twas the hearts of oak that served each gun."
+
+These are words from one of the "Songs for Sailors," by W.C.  Bennett,
+who has written better naval poems for popular use than any one since
+the days of Dibdin.  The same idea concludes a rattling ballad on old
+Admiral Benbow:--
+
+  "Well, our walls of oak have become just a joke
+  And in tea-kettles we're to fight;
+  It seems a queer dream, all this iron and steam,
+  But I daresay, my lads, it's right.
+  But whether we float in ship or in boat,
+  In iron or oak, we know
+  For old England's right we've hearts that will fight,
+  As of old did the brave Benbow."
+
+But, after all, even in war, fighting is only a small part of the sum of
+any sailor's life, and the British flag floats over ships on every sea,
+whether under sail or steam, in the peaceful pursuits of commerce.  The
+same qualities of heart and mind will have their play, which Mr
+Kingston has described in his stirring story,--a story which will be
+read with profit by the young, and with pleasure by both young and old.
+
+                            DR. MACAULAY, FOUNDER OF "BOY'S OWN PAPER."
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+PREPARING TO START.
+
+No steamboats ploughed the ocean, nor were railroads thought of, when
+our young friends Jack, Tom, and Bill lived.  They first met each other
+on board the _Foxhound_ frigate, on the deck of which ship a score of
+other lads and some fifty or sixty men were mustered, who had just come
+up the side from the _Viper_ tender; she having been on a cruise to
+collect such stray hands as could be found; and a curious lot they were
+to look at.
+
+Among them were long-shore fellows in swallow-tails and round hats,
+fishermen in jerseys and fur-skin caps, smugglers in big boots and
+flushing coats; and not a few whose whitey-brown faces, and
+close-cropped hair, made it no difficult matter to guess that their last
+residence was within the walls of a gaol.  There were seamen also,
+pressed most of them, just come in from a long voyage, many months or
+perhaps years having passed since they left their native land; that they
+did not look especially amiable was not to be wondered at, since they
+had been prevented from going, as they had intended, to visit their
+friends, or maybe, in the case of the careless ones, from enjoying a
+long-expected spree on shore.  They were all now waiting to be inspected
+by the first lieutenant, before their names were entered on the ship's
+books.
+
+The rest of the crew were going about their various duties.  Most of
+them were old hands, who had served a year or more on board the gallant
+frigate.  During that time she had fought two fierce actions, which,
+though she had come off victorious, had greatly thinned her ship's
+company, and the captain was therefore anxious to make up the complement
+as fast as possible by every means in his power.
+
+The seamen took but little notice of the new hands, though some of them
+had been much of the same description themselves, but were not very fond
+of acknowledging this, or of talking of their previous histories; they
+had, however, got worked into shape by degrees: and the newcomers, even
+those with the "long togs," by the time they had gone through the same
+process would not be distinguished from the older hands, except, maybe,
+when they came to splice an eye, or turn in a grummet, when their clumsy
+work would show what they were; few of them either were likely ever to
+be the outermost on the yard-arms when sail had suddenly to be shortened
+on a dark night, while it was blowing great guns and small arms.
+
+The frigate lay at Spithead.  She had been waiting for these hands to
+put to sea.  Lighters were alongside, and whips were never-ceasingly
+hoisting in casks of rum, with bales and cases of all sorts, which it
+seemed impossible could ever be stowed away.  From the first lieutenant
+to the youngest midshipman, all were bawling at the top of their voices,
+issuing and repeating orders; but there were two persons who out-roared
+all the rest, the boatswain and the boatswain's mate.  They were proud
+of those voices of theirs.  Let the hardest gale be blowing, with the
+wind howling and whistling through the rigging, the canvas flapping like
+claps of thunder, and the seas roaring and dashing against the bows,
+they could make themselves heard above the loudest sounds of the storm.
+
+At present the boatswain bawled, or rather roared, because he was so
+accustomed to roar that he could speak in no gentler voice while
+carrying on duty on deck; and the boatswain's mate imitated him.
+
+The first lieutenant had a good voice of his own, though it was not so
+rough as that of his inferiors.  He made it come out with a quick, sharp
+sound, which could be heard from the poop to the forecastle, even with
+the wind ahead.
+
+Jack, Tom, and Bill looked at each other, wondering what was next going
+to happen.  They were all three of about the same age, and much of a
+height, and somehow, as I have said, they found themselves standing
+close together.
+
+They were too much astonished, not to say frightened, to talk just then,
+though they all three had tongues in their heads, so they listened to
+the conversation going on around them.
+
+"Why, mate, where do you come from?" asked a long-shore chap of one of
+the whitey-brown-faced gentlemen.
+
+"Oh, I've jist dropped from the clouds; don't know where else I've come
+from," was the answer.
+
+"I suppose you got your hair cropped off as you came down?" was the next
+query.
+
+"Yes! it was the wind did it as I came scuttling down," answered the
+other, who was evidently never at a loss what to say.  "And now, mate,
+just tell me how did you get on board this craft?" he inquired.
+
+"I swam off, of course, seized with a fit of patriotism, and determined
+to fight for the honour and glory of old England," was the answer.
+
+It cannot, however, be said that this is a fair specimen of the
+conversation; indeed, it would benefit no one were what was said to be
+repeated.
+
+Jack, Tom, and Bill felt very much as a person might be supposed to do
+who had dropped from the moon.  Everything around them was so strange
+and bewildering, for not one of them had ever before been on board a
+ship, and Bill had never even seen one.  Having not been much accustomed
+to the appearance of trees, he had some idea that the masts grew out of
+the deck, that the yards were branches, and the blocks curious leaves;
+not that amid the fearful uproar, and what seemed to him the wildest
+confusion, he could think of anything clearly.
+
+Bill Rayner had certainly not been born with a silver spoon in his
+mouth.  His father he had never known.  His mother lived in a garret and
+died in a garret, although not before, happily for him, he was able to
+do something for himself, and, still more happily, not before she had
+impressed right principles on his mind.  As the poor woman lay on her
+deathbed, taking her boy's hands and looking earnestly into his eyes,
+she said, "Be honest, Bill, in the sight of God.  Never forget that He
+sees you, and do your best to please Him.  No fear about the rest.  I am
+not much of a scholar, but I know that's right.  If others try to
+persuade you to do what's wrong, don't listen to them.  Promise me,
+Bill, that you will do as I tell you."
+
+"I promise, mother, that I will," answered Bill; and, small lad as he
+was, meant what he said.
+
+Poor as she was, being a woman of some education, his mother had taught
+him to read and write and cipher--not that he was a great adept at any
+of those arts, but he possessed the groundwork, which was an important
+matter; and he did his best to keep up his knowledge by reading
+sign-boards, looking into book-sellers' windows, and studying any stray
+leaves he could obtain.
+
+Bill's mother was buried in a rough shell by the parish, and Bill went
+out into the world to seek his fortune.  He took to curious ways,--
+hunting in dust-heaps for anything worth having; running errands when he
+could get any one to send him; holding horses for gentlemen, but that
+was not often; doing duty as a link-boy at houses when grand parties
+were going forward or during foggy weather; for Bill, though he often
+went supperless to his nest, either under a market-cart, or in a cask by
+the river side, or in some other out-of-the-way place, generally managed
+to have a little capital with which to buy a link; but the said capital
+did not grow much, for bad times coming swallowed it all up.
+
+Bill, as are many other London boys, was exposed to temptations of all
+sorts; often when almost starving, without a roof to sleep under, or a
+friend to whom he could appeal for help, his shoes worn out, his
+clothing too scanty to keep him warm; but, ever recollecting his
+mother's last words, he resisted them all.  One day, having wandered
+farther east than he had ever been before, he found himself in the
+presence of a press-gang, who were carrying off a party of men and boys
+to the river's edge.  One of the man-of-war's men seized upon him, and
+Bill, thinking that matters could not be much worse with him than they
+were at present, willingly accompanied the party, though he had very
+little notion where they were going.  Reaching a boat, they were made to
+tumble in, some resisting and endeavouring to get away; but a gentle
+prick from the point of a cutlass, or a clout on the head, made them
+more reasonable, and most of them sat down resigned to their fate.  One
+of them, however, a stout fellow, when the boat had got some distance
+from the shore, striking out right and left at the men nearest him,
+sprang overboard, and before the boat could be pulled round had already
+got back nearly half-way to the landing-place.
+
+One or two of the press-gang, who had muskets, fired, but they were not
+good shots.  The man looking back as he saw them lifting their weapons,
+by suddenly diving escaped the first volley, and by the time they had
+again loaded he had gained such a distance that the shot spattered into
+the water on either side of him.  They were afraid of firing again for
+fear of hitting some of the people on shore, besides which, darkness
+coming on, the gloom concealed him from view.
+
+They knew, however, that he must have landed in safety from the cheers
+which came from off the quay, uttered by the crowd who had followed the
+press-gang, hooting them as they embarked with their captives.
+
+Bill began to think that he could not be going to a very pleasant place,
+since, in spite of the risk he ran, the man had been so eager to escape;
+but being himself unable to swim, he could not follow his example, even
+had he wished it.  He judged it wiser, therefore, to stay still, and see
+what would next happen.  The boat pulled down the river for some way,
+till she got alongside a large cutter, up the side of which Bill and his
+companions were made to climb.
+
+From what he heard, he found that she was a man-of-war tender, her
+business being to collect men, by hook or by crook, for the Royal Navy.
+
+As she was now full--indeed, so crowded that no more men could be stowed
+on board--she got under way with the first of the ebb, and dropped down
+the stream, bound for Spithead.
+
+As Bill, with most of the pressed men, was kept below during this his
+first trip to sea, he gained but little nautical experience.  He was,
+however, very sick, while he arrived at the conclusion that the tender's
+hold, the dark prison in which he found himself, was a most horrible
+place.
+
+Several of his more heartless companions jeered at him in his misery;
+and, indeed, poor Bill, thin and pale, shoeless and hatless, clad in
+patched garments, looked a truly miserable object.
+
+As the wind was fair, the voyage did not last long, and glad enough he
+was when the cutter got alongside the big frigate, and he with the rest
+being ordered on board, he could breathe the fresh air which blew across
+her decks.
+
+Tom Fletcher, who stood next to Bill, had considerably the advantage of
+him in outward appearance.  Tom was dressed in somewhat nautical
+fashion, though any sailor would have seen with half an eye that his
+costume had been got up by a shore-going tailor.
+
+Tom had a good-natured but not very sensible-looking countenance.  He
+was strongly built, was in good health, and had the making of a sailor
+in him, though this was the first time that he had even been on board a
+ship.
+
+He had a short time before come off with a party of men returning on the
+expiration of their leave.  Telling them that he wished to go to sea, he
+had been allowed to enter the boat.  From the questions some of them had
+put to him, and the answers he gave, they suspected that he was a
+runaway, and such in fact was the case.  Tom was the son of a solicitor
+in a country town, who had several other boys, he being the fourth, in
+the family.
+
+He had for some time taken to reading the voyages of Drake, Cavendish,
+and Dampier, and the adventures of celebrated pirates, such as those of
+Captains Kidd, Lowther, Davis, Teach, as also the lives of some of
+England's naval commanders, Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Benbow, and Admirals
+Hawke, Keppel, Rodney, and others, whose gallant actions he fully
+intended some day to imitate.
+
+He had made vain endeavours to induce his father to let him go to sea,
+but Mr Fletcher, knowing that he was utterly ignorant of a sea life,
+set his wish down as a mere fancy which it would be folly to indulge.
+
+Tom, instead of trying to show that he really was in earnest, took
+French leave one fine morning, and found his way to Portsmouth, without
+being traced.  Had he waited, he would probably have been sent to sea as
+a midshipman, and placed on the quarter-deck.  He now entered as a
+ship-boy before the mast.
+
+Tom, as he had made his bed, had to lie on it, as is the case with many
+other persons.  Even now, had he written home, he might have had his
+position changed, but he thought himself very clever, and had no
+intention of letting his father know where he had gone.  The last of the
+trio was far more accustomed to salt water than was either of his
+companions.  Jack Peek was the son of a West country fisherman.  He had
+come to sea because he saw that there was little chance of getting bread
+to put into his mouth if he remained on shore.
+
+Jack's father had lost his boats and nets the previous winter, and had
+shortly afterwards been pressed on board a man-of-war.
+
+Jack had done his best to support himself without being a burden to his
+mother, who sold fish in the neighbouring town and country round, and
+could do very well for herself; so when he proposed going on board a
+man-of-war, she, having mended his shirts, bought him a new pair of
+shoes, and gave him her blessing.  Accordingly, doing up his spare
+clothes in a bundle, which he carried at the end of a stick, he trudged
+off with a stout heart, resolved to serve His Majesty and fight the
+battles of Old England.
+
+Jack went on board the first man-of-war tender picking up hands he could
+find, and had been transferred that day to the _Foxhound_.
+
+He told Tom and Bill thus much of his history.  The former, however, was
+not very ready to be communicative as to his; while Bill's patched
+garments said as much about him as he was just then willing to narrate.
+A boy who had spent all his life in the streets of London was not likely
+to say more to strangers than was necessary.
+
+In the meantime the fresh hands had been called up before the first
+lieutenant, Mr Saltwell, and their names entered by the purser in the
+ship's books, after the ordinary questions had been put to them to
+ascertain for what rating they were qualified.
+
+Some few, including the smugglers, were entered as able seamen; others
+as ordinary seamen; and the larger number, who were unfit to go aloft,
+or indeed not likely to be of much use in any way for a long time to
+come, were rated as landsmen, and would have to do all the dirty work
+about the ship.
+
+The boys were next called up, and each of them gave an account of
+himself.
+
+Tom dreaded lest he should be asked any questions which he would be
+puzzled to answer.
+
+The first lieutenant glanced at all three, and in spite of his old
+dress, entered Bill first, Jack next, and Tom, greatly to his surprise,
+the last.  In those days no questions were asked where men or boys came
+from.  At the present time, a boy who should thus appear on board a
+man-of-war would find himself in the wrong box, and be quickly sent on
+shore again, and home to his friends.  None are allowed to enter the
+Navy until they have gone through a regular course of instruction in a
+training ship, and none are received on board her unless they can read
+and write well, and have a formally signed certificate that they have
+obtained permission from their parents or guardians.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+HEAVING UP THE ANCHOR.
+
+As soon as the boys' names were entered, they were sent forward, under
+charge of the ship's corporal, to obtain suits of sailor's clothing from
+the purser's steward, which clothing was charged to their respective
+accounts.
+
+The ship's corporal made them wash themselves before putting on their
+fresh gear; and when they appeared in it, with their hair nicely combed
+out, it was soon seen which of the three was likely to prove the
+smartest sea boy.
+
+Bill, who had never had such neat clothing on before, felt himself a
+different being.  Tom strutted about and tried to look big.  Jack was
+not much changed, except that he had a round hat instead of a cap, clean
+clothes, and lighter shoes than the thick ones in which he had come on
+board.
+
+As neither Tom nor Bill knew the stem from the stern of the ship, and
+even Jack felt very strange, they were handed over to the charge of Dick
+Brice, the biggest ship's boy, with orders to him to instruct them in
+their respective duties.
+
+Dick had great faith in a rope's-end, having found it efficacious in his
+own case.  He was fond of using it pretty frequently to enforce his
+instructions.  Jack and Bill supposed that it was part of the regular
+discipline of the ship; but Tom had not bargained for such treatment,
+and informing Dick that he would not stand it, in consequence got a
+double allowance.
+
+He dared not venture to complain to his superiors, for he saw the
+boatswain and the boatswain's mate using their colts with similar
+freedom, and so he had just to grin and bear it.
+
+At night, when the hammocks were piped down, the three went to theirs in
+the forepart of the ship.  Bill thought he had never slept in a more
+comfortable bed in his life.  Jack did not think much about the matter;
+but Tom, who had always been accustomed to a well-made bed at home,
+grumbled dreadfully when he tried to get into his, and tumbled out three
+or four times on the opposite side before he succeeded.
+
+Had it not been for Dick Brice, who slung their hammocks for them, they
+would have had to sleep on the bare deck.
+
+The next morning the gruff voice of the boatswain's mate summoned all
+hands to turn out, and on going on deck they saw "Blue Peter" flying at
+the fore, while shortly afterwards the Jews and all other visitors were
+made to go down the side into the boats waiting for them.  The captain
+came on board, the sails were loosed, and while the fife was setting up
+a merry tune, the seamen tramped round at the capstan bars, and the
+anchor was hove up.
+
+The wind being from the eastward, in the course of a few minutes the
+gallant frigate, under all sail, was gliding down through the smooth
+waters of the Solent Sea towards the Needles.
+
+Tom and Bill had something fresh to wonder at every minute.  It dawned
+upon them by degrees that the forepart of the ship went first, and that
+the wheel, at which two hands were always stationed, had something to do
+with guiding her, and that the sails played an important part in driving
+her on.
+
+Jack had a great advantage over them, as he knew all this, and many
+other things besides, and being a good-natured fellow, was always ready
+to impart his knowledge to them.
+
+By the time they had been three or four weeks at sea, they had learned a
+great deal more, and were able to go aloft.
+
+Bill had caught up to Jack, and had left Tom far behind.  The same
+talent which had induced him to mend his ragged clothes, made him do,
+with rapidity and neatness, everything else he undertook, while he
+showed a peculiar knack of being quick at understanding and executing
+the orders he received.
+
+Tom felt rather jealous that he should be surpassed by one he had at
+first looked down on as little better than a beggar boy.
+
+It never entered into Jack's head to trouble himself about the matter,
+and if Bill was his superior, that was no business of his.
+
+There were a good many other people on board, who looked down on all
+three of them, considering that they were the youngest boys, and were at
+everybody's beck and call.
+
+As soon as the frigate got to sea the crew were exercised at their guns,
+and Jack, Tom, and Bill had to perform the duty of powder-monkeys.  This
+consisted in bringing up the powder from the magazine in small tubs, on
+which they had to sit in a row on deck, to prevent the sparks getting in
+while the men were working the guns, and to hand out the powder as it
+was required.
+
+"I don't see any fun in firing away when there is no enemy in sight,"
+observed Tom, as he sat on his tub at a little distance from Bill.
+
+"There may not be much fun in it, but it's very necessary," answered
+Bill.  "If the men were not to practise at the guns, how could they fire
+away properly when we get alongside an enemy?  See! some of the fresh
+hands don't seem to know much what they are about, or the lieutenant
+would not be growling at them in the way he is doing.  I am keeping my
+eye on the old hands to learn how they manage, and before long, I think,
+if I was big enough, I could stand to my gun as well as they do."
+
+Tom, who had not before thought of observing the crews of the guns, took
+the hint, and watched how each man was engaged.
+
+By being constantly exercised, the crew in a few weeks were well able to
+work their guns; but hitherto they had fallen in with no enemy against
+whom to exhibit their prowess.
+
+A bright look-out was kept from the mast-head from sunrise to sunset for
+a strange sail, and it was not probable that they would have to go long
+without falling in with one, for England had at that time pretty nearly
+all the world in arms against her.  She had managed to quarrel with the
+Dutch, and was at war with the French and Spaniards, while she had
+lately been engaged in a vain attempt to overcome the American colonies,
+which had thrown off their allegiance to the British Crown.
+
+Happily for the country, her navy was staunch, and many of the most
+gallant admirals whose names have been handed down to fame commanded her
+fleets; the captains, officers, and crews, down to the youngest
+ship-boys, tried to imitate their example, and enabled her in the
+unequal struggle to come off victorious.
+
+The _Foxhound_ had for some days been cruising in the Bay of Biscay, and
+was one morning about the latitude of Ferrol.  The watch was employed in
+washing down decks, the men and boys paddling about with their trousers
+tucked up to their knees, some with buckets of water, which they were
+heaving about in every direction, now and then giving a shipmate, when
+the first lieutenant's eye was off them, the benefit of a shower-bath:
+others were wielding huge swabs, slashing them down right and left, with
+loud thuds, and ill would it have fared with any incautious landsman who
+might have got within their reach.  The men were laughing and joking
+with each other, and the occupation seemed to afford amusement to all
+employed.
+
+Suddenly there came a shout from the look-out at the masthead of "Five
+sail in sight."
+
+"Where away?" asked Lieutenant Saltwell, who was on deck superintending
+the operations going forward.
+
+"Dead to leeward, sir," was the answer.
+
+The wind was at the time blowing from the north-west, and the frigate
+was standing close hauled, on the starboard tack, to the westward.
+
+The mate of the watch instantly went aloft, with his spy-glass hung at
+his back, to take a look at the strangers, while a midshipman was sent
+to inform Captain Waring, who, before many minutes had elapsed, made his
+appearance, having hurriedly slipped into his clothes.
+
+On receiving the report of the young officer, who had returned on deck,
+he immediately ordered the helm to be put up, and the ship to be kept
+away in the direction of the strangers.
+
+In a short time it was seen that most of them were large ships; one of
+them very considerably larger than the _Foxhound_.
+
+The business of washing down the decks had been quickly concluded, and
+the crew were sent to their breakfasts.
+
+Many remarks of various sorts were made by the men.  Some thought that
+the captain would never dream of engaging so superior a force; while
+others, who knew him well, declared that whatever the odds, he would
+fight.
+
+As yet no order had been received to beat to quarters, and many were of
+opinion that the captain would only stand on near enough to ascertain
+the character of the strangers, and then, should they prove enemies,
+make all sail away from them.
+
+Still the frigate stood on, and Bill, who was near one of the officers
+who had a glass in his hand, heard him observe that one was a
+line-of-battle ship, two at least were frigates, while another was a
+corvette, and the fifth a large brig-of-war.
+
+These were formidable odds, but still their plucky captain showed no
+inclination to escape from them, but, on the contrary, seemed as if he
+had made up his mind to bring them to action.
+
+The question was ere long decided.  The drum beat to quarters, the men
+went to their guns, powder and shot were handed up from below, giving
+ample occupation to the powder-monkeys, and the ship was headed towards
+the nearest of the strangers.  She was still some distance off when the
+crew were summoned aft to hear what the captain had to say to them.
+
+"My lads!" he said, "some of you have fought under me before now, and
+though the odds were against us, we licked the enemy.  We have got
+somewhat greater odds, perhaps, at present, but I want to take two or
+three of those ships; they are not quite as powerful as they look, and
+if you will work your guns as I know you can work them, we'll do it
+before many hours have passed.  We have a fine breeze to help us, and
+will tackle one after the other.  You'll support me, I know."
+
+Three loud cheers were given as a response to this appeal, and the men
+went back to their guns, where they stood stripped to their waists, with
+handkerchiefs bound round their heads.
+
+Notwithstanding the formidable array of the enemy, the frigate kept
+bearing down under plain sail towards them.
+
+Our heroes, sitting on their tubs, could see but very little of what was
+going forward, though now and then they got a glimpse of the enemy
+through the ports; but they heard the remarks made by the men in their
+neighbourhood, who were allowed to talk till the time for action had
+arrived.
+
+"Our skipper knows what he's about, but that chap ahead of the rest is a
+monster, and looks big enough to tackle us without the help of the
+others," observed one of the crew of the gun nearest to which Tom was
+seated.
+
+"What's the odds if she carries twice as many teeth as we have! we'll
+work ours twice as fast, and beat her before the frigates can come up to
+grin at us," answered Ned Green, the captain of the gun.
+
+Tom did not quite like the remarks he heard.  There was going to be a
+sharp fight, of that there could be no doubt, and round shot would soon
+be coming in through the sides, and taking off men's heads and legs and
+arms.  It struck him that he would have been safer at school.  He
+thought of his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, who, if he
+was killed, would never know what had become of him; not that Tom was a
+coward, but it was somewhat trying to the courage even of older hands,
+thus standing on slowly towards the enemy.  When the fighting had once
+begun, Tom was likely to prove as brave as anybody else; at all events,
+he would have no time for thinking, and it is that which tries most
+people.
+
+The captain and most of the officers were on the quarter-deck, keeping
+their glasses on the enemy.
+
+"The leading ship under French colours appears to me to carry sixty-four
+guns," observed the first lieutenant to the captain; "and the next, also
+a Frenchmen, looks like a thirty-six gun frigate.  The brig is American,
+and so is one of the sloops.  The sternmost is French, and is a biggish
+ship."
+
+"Whatever they are, we'll fight them, and, I hope, take one or two at
+least," answered the captain.
+
+He looked at his watch.  It was just ten o'clock.  The next moment the
+headmost ship opened her fire, and the shot came whizzing between the
+ship's masts.
+
+Captain Waring watched them as they flew through the air.
+
+"I thought so," he observed.  "There were not more than fifteen; she's a
+store-ship, and will be our prize before the day is over.  Fire, my
+lads!" he shouted; and the eager crew poured a broadside into the enemy,
+rapidly running in their guns, and reloading them to be ready for the
+next opponent.
+
+The _Foxhound_ was standing along the enemy's line to windward, and as
+she came abreast of each ship she fired with well-directed aim; and
+though all the enemy's ships in succession discharged their guns at her,
+not a shot struck her hull, though their object evidently was to cripple
+her, so that they might surround her and have her at their mercy.
+
+Tom, who had read about sea-fights, and had expected to have the shot
+come rushing across the deck, felt much more comfortable on discovering
+this, and began to look upon the Frenchmen as very bad gunners.
+
+The _Foxhound's_ guns were all this time thundering away as fast as the
+crews could run them in and load them, the men warming to their work as
+they saw the damage they were inflicting on the enemy.
+
+Having passed the enemy's line to windward, Captain Waring ordered the
+ship to be put about, and bore down on the sternmost French ship, which,
+with one of smaller size carrying the American pennant, was in a short
+time so severely treated that they both bore up out of the line.  The
+_Foxhound_, however, followed, and the other French ships and the
+American brig coming to the assistance of their consorts, the _Foxhound_
+had them on both sides of her.
+
+This was just what her now thoroughly excited crew desired most, as they
+could discharge their two broadsides at the same time; and right
+gallantly did she fight her way through her numerous foes till she got
+up with the American ship, which had been endeavouring to escape before
+the wind, and now, to avoid the broadside which the English ship was
+about to pour into her, she hauled down her colours.
+
+On seeing this, the frigate's crew gave three hearty cheers; and as soon
+as they had ceased, the captain's voice was heard ordering two boats
+away under the command of the third lieutenant, who was directed to take
+charge of the prize, and to send her crew on board the ship.
+
+Not a moment was to be lost, as the rest of the enemy, under all sail,
+were endeavouring to make their escape.
+
+The boats of the prize, which proved to be the _Alexander_, carrying
+twenty-four guns and upwards of a hundred men, were then lowered, and
+employed in conveying her crew to the ship.
+
+The American captain and officers were inclined to grumble at first.
+
+"Very sorry, gentlemen, to incommode you," said the English lieutenant,
+as he hurried them down the side; "but necessity has no law; my orders
+are to send you all on board the frigate, as the captain is in a hurry
+to go in chase of your friends, of which we hope to have one or two more
+in our possession before long."
+
+The lieutenant altered his tone when the Americans began to grumble.
+"You must go at once, or take the consequences," he exclaimed; and the
+prisoners saw that it would be wise to obey.
+
+They were received very politely on board the ship, Captain Waring
+offering to accept their parole if they were ready to give it, and
+promise not to attempt to interfere with the discipline and regulations
+of the ship.
+
+As soon as the prisoners were transferred to the _Foxhound_, she made
+all sail in chase of the large ship, which Captain Waring now heard was
+the sixty-four gun ship _Menager_, laden with gunpowder, but now
+mounting on her maindeck twenty-six long twelve-pounders, and on her
+quarter-deck four long six-pounders, with a crew of two hundred and
+twenty men.
+
+Her force was considerably greater than that of the English frigate, but
+Captain Waring did not for a moment hesitate to continue in pursuit of
+her.  A stern chase, however, is a long chase.  The day wore on, and
+still the French ship kept ahead of the _Foxhound_.
+
+The crew were piped to dinner to obtain fresh strength for renewing the
+fight.
+
+"Well, lads," said Green, who was a bit of a wag in his way, as he
+looked at the powder-boys still seated on their tubs, "as you have still
+got your heads on your shoulders, you may put some food into your
+mouths.  Maybe you won't have another opportunity after we get up with
+the big 'un we are chasing.  I told you, mates," he added, turning to
+the crew of his gun, "the captain knew what he was about, and would make
+the Frenchmen haul down their flags before we hauled down ours.  I
+should not be surprised if we got the whole lot of them."
+
+The boys, having returned their powder to the magazine till it was again
+wanted, were glad enough to stretch their legs, and still more to follow
+Green's advice by swallowing the food which was served out to them.
+
+The rest of the enemy's squadron were still in sight, scattered here and
+there, and considerably ahead of the _Menager_; the frigate was,
+however, gaining on the latter, and if the wind held, would certainly be
+up with her some time in the afternoon.
+
+Every stitch of canvas she could carry was set on board the _Foxhound_.
+
+It was already five o'clock.  The crew had returned to their quarters,
+and the powder-monkeys were seated on their tubs.  Both the pursuer and
+pursued were on the larboard tack, going free.
+
+"We have her now within range of our guns," cried Captain Waring.  "Luff
+up, master, and we'll give her a broadside."
+
+Just as he uttered the words a squall struck the frigate.  Over she
+heeled, the water rushing in through her lower deck ports, which were
+unusually low, and washing over the deck.
+
+The crews of the lee guns, as they stood up to their knees in water,
+fully believed that she was going over.  In vain they endeavoured to run
+in their guns.  More and more she heeled over, till the water was nearly
+up to their waists.  None flinched, however.  The guns must be got in,
+and the ports shut, or the ship would be lost.
+
+"What's going to happen?" cried Tom Fletcher.  "We are going down! we
+are going down!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+BILL DOES GOOD SERVICE.
+
+The _Foxhound_ appeared indeed to be in a perilous position.  The water
+washed higher and higher over the deck.  "We are going down! we are
+going down!" again cried Tom, wringing his hands.
+
+"Not if we can help it," said Jack.  "We must get the ports closed, and
+stop the water from coming in."
+
+"It's no use crying out till we are hurt.  We can die but once," said
+Bill.  "Cheer up, Tom; if we do go to the bottom, it's where many have
+gone before;" though Bill did not really think that the ship was
+sinking.  Perhaps, had he done so, he would not have been so cool as he
+now appeared.
+
+"That's a very poor consolation," answered Tom to his last remark.  "Oh,
+dear! oh, dear!  I wish that I had stayed on shore."
+
+Though there was some confusion among the landsmen, a few of whom began
+to look very white, if they did not actually wring their hands and cry
+out, the crews of the guns remained at their stations, and hauled away
+lustily at the tackles to run them in.  The captain, though on the
+quarter-deck, was fully aware of the danger.  There was no time to
+shorten sail.
+
+"Port the helm!" he shouted; "hard a-port, square away the yards;" and
+in a few seconds the ship, put before the wind, rose to an even keel,
+the water, in a wave, rushing across the deck, some escaping through the
+opposite ports, though a considerable portion made its way below.
+
+The starboard ports were now speedily closed, when once more the ship
+hauled up in chase.
+
+The _Foxhound_, sailing well, soon got up again with the _Menager_, and
+once more opened her fire, receiving that of the enemy in return.
+
+The port of Ferrol could now be distinguished about six miles off, and
+it was thought probable that some Spanish men-of-war lying there might
+come out to the assistance of their friends.  It was important to make
+the chase a prize before that should happen.
+
+For some minutes Captain Waring reserved his fire, having set all the
+sail the _Foxhound_ could carry.
+
+"Don't fire a shot till I tell you," he shouted to his men.
+
+The crews of the starboard guns stood ready for the order to discharge
+the whole broadside into the enemy.  Captain Waring was on the point of
+issuing it, the word "Fire" was on his lips, when down came the
+Frenchman's flag, and instead of the thunder of their guns the British
+seamen uttered three joyful cheers.
+
+The _Foxhound_ was hove-to to windward of the prize, while three of the
+boats were lowered and pulled towards her.  The third lieutenant of the
+_Foxhound_ was sent in command, and the _Menager's_ boats being also
+lowered, her officers and crew were transferred as fast as possible on
+board their captor.
+
+As the _Menager_ was a large ship, she required a good many people to
+man her, thus leaving the _Foxhound_ with a greatly diminished crew.
+
+It took upwards of an hour before the prisoners with their bags and
+other personal property were removed to the _Foxhound_.  Captain Waring
+and Lieutenant Saltwell turned their eyes pretty often towards the
+harbour.  No ships were seen coming out of it.  The English frigate and
+her two prizes consequently steered in the direction the other vessels
+had gone, the captain hoping to pick up one or more of them during the
+following morning.  Her diminished crew had enough to do in attending to
+their proper duties, and in looking after the prisoners.
+
+The commanders of the two ships were received by the captain in his
+cabin, while the gun-room officers invited those of similar rank to mess
+with them, the men taking care of the French and American crews.  The
+British seamen treated them rather as guests than prisoners, being ready
+to attend to their wants and to do them any service in their power.
+Their manner towards the Frenchmen showed the compassion they felt,
+mixed perhaps with a certain amount of contempt.  They seemed to
+consider them indeed somewhat like big babes, and several might have
+been seen feeding the wounded and nursing them with tender care.
+
+During the night neither the watch below nor any of the officers turned
+in, the greater number remaining on deck in the hopes that they might
+catch sight of one of the ships which had hitherto escaped them.
+
+Note: This action and the subsequent events are described exactly as
+they occurred.
+
+The American commander, Captain Gregory, sat in the cabin, looking
+somewhat sulky, presenting a great contrast to the behaviour of the
+Frenchman, Monsieur Saint Julien, who, being able to speak a little
+English, allowed his tongue to wag without cessation, laughing and
+joking, and trying to raise a smile on the countenance of his brother
+captive, the American skipper.
+
+"Why! my friend, it is de fortune of war.  Why you so sad?" exclaimed
+the volatile Frenchman.  "Another day we take two English ship, and then
+make all right.  Have you never been in England?  Fine country, but not
+equal to `la belle France;' too much fog and rain dere."
+
+"I don't care for the rain, or the fog, Monsieur; but I don't fancy
+losing my ship, when we five ought to have taken the Englishman,"
+replied the American.
+
+"Ah! it was bad fortune, to be sure," observed Monsieur Saint Julien.
+"Better luck next time, as you say; but what we cannot cure, dat we must
+endure; is not dat your proverb?  Cheer up! cheer up! my friend."
+
+Nothing, however, the light-hearted Frenchman could say had the effect
+of raising the American's spirits.
+
+A handsome supper was placed on the table, to which Monsieur Saint
+Julien did ample justice, but Captain Gregory touched scarcely anything.
+At an early hour he excused himself, and retired to a berth which
+Captain Waring had courteously appropriated to his use.
+
+During the night the wind shifted more to the westward, and then round
+to the south-west, blowing pretty strong.  When morning broke, the
+look-outs discovered two sail to the south-east, which it was evident
+were some of the squadron that had escaped on the previous evening.
+They were, however, standing in towards the land.
+
+Captain Waring, after consultation with his first lieutenant and master,
+determined to let them escape.  He had already three hundred and forty
+prisoners on board, while his own crew amounted to only one hundred and
+ninety.  Should he take another prize, he would have still further to
+diminish the number of the ship's company, while that of the prisoners
+would be greatly increased.  The French and American captains had come
+on deck, and were standing apart, watching the distant vessels.
+
+"I hope these Englishmen will take one of those fellows," observed
+Captain Gregory to Monsieur Saint Julien.
+
+"Why so, my friend?" asked the latter.
+
+"They deserve it, in the first place, and then it would be a question
+who gets command of this ship.  We are pretty strong already, and if
+your people would prove staunch, we might turn the tables on our
+captors," said the American.
+
+"Comment!" exclaimed Captain Saint Julien, starting back.  "You forget
+dat we did pledge our honour to behave peaceably, and not to interfere
+with the discipline of the ship.  French officers are not accustomed to
+break their parole.  You insult me by making the proposal, and I hope
+dat you are not in earnest."
+
+"Oh, no, my friend, I was only joking," answered the American skipper,
+perceiving that he had gone too far.
+
+Officers of the U.S.  Navy, we may here remark, have as high a sense of
+honour as any English or French officer, but this ship was only a
+privateer, with a scratch crew, some of them renegade Englishmen, and
+the Captain was on a level with the lot.
+
+The Frenchman looked at him sternly.  "I will be no party to such a
+proceeding," he observed.
+
+"Oh, of course not, of course not, my friend," said Captain Gregory,
+walking aside.
+
+It being finally decided to allow the other French vessels to escape,
+the _Foxhound's_ yards were squared away, and a course shaped for
+Plymouth, with the two prizes in company.
+
+Soon after noon the wind fell, and the ships made but little progress.
+The British crew had but a short time to sleep or rest, it being
+necessary to keep a number of men under arms to watch the prisoners.
+
+The Frenchmen were placed on the lower deck, where they sat down by
+themselves; but the Americans mixed more freely with the English.  As
+evening approached, however, they also drew off and congregated
+together.  Two or three of their officers came among them.
+
+Just before dusk Captain Gregory made his appearance, and was seen
+talking in low whispers to several of the men.
+
+Among those who observed him was Bill Rayner.  Bill's wits were always
+sharp, and they had been still more sharpened since he came to sea by
+the new life he was leading.  He had his eyes always about him to take
+in what he saw, and his ears open whenever there was anything worth
+hearing.  It had struck him as a strange thing that so many prisoners
+should submit quietly to be kept in subjection by a mere handful of
+Englishmen.  On seeing the American skipper talking to his men, he crept
+in unobserved among them.  His ears being wide open, he overheard
+several words which dropped from their lips.
+
+"Oh, oh!" he thought.  "Is that the trick you're after?  You intend to
+take our ship, do you?  You'll not succeed if I have the power to
+prevent you."
+
+But how young Bill was to do that was the question.  He had never even
+spoken to the boatswain or the boatswain's mate.  It seemed scarcely
+possible for him to venture to tell the first lieutenant or the captain;
+still, if the prisoners' plot was to be defeated, he must inform them of
+what he had heard, and that without delay.
+
+His first difficulty was how to get away from among the prisoners.
+Should they suspect him they would probably knock him on the head or
+strangle him, and trust to the chance of shoving him through one of the
+ports unobserved.  This was possible in the crowded state of the ship,
+desperate as the act might seem.
+
+Bill therefore had to wait till he could make his way on deck without
+being remarked.  Pretending to drop asleep, he lay perfectly quiet for
+some time; then sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he staggered away
+forward, as if still drowsy, to make it be supposed that he was about to
+turn into his hammock.  Finding that he was unobserved, he crept up by
+the fore-hatchway, where he found Dick, who was in the watch off deck.
+
+At first he thought of consulting Dick, in whom he knew he could trust;
+but second thoughts, which are generally the best, made him resolve not
+to say anything to him, but to go at once to either the first lieutenant
+or the captain.
+
+"If I go to Mr Saltwell, perhaps he will think I was dreaming, and tell
+me to `turn into my hammock and finish my dreams,'" he thought to
+himself.  "No!  I'll go to the captain at once; perhaps the sentry will
+let me pass, or if not, I'll get him to ask the captain to see me.  He
+cannot eat me, that's one comfort; if he thinks that I am bringing him a
+cock-and-bull story, he won't punish me; and I shall at all events have
+done my duty."
+
+Bill thought this, and a good deal besides, as he made his way aft till
+he arrived at the door of the captain's cabin, where the sentry was
+posted.
+
+"Where are you going, boy?" asked the sentry, as Bill in his eagerness
+was trying to pass him.
+
+"I want to see the captain," said Bill.
+
+"But does the captain want to see you?" asked the sentry.
+
+"He has not sent for me; but he will when he hears what I have got to
+tell him," replied Bill.
+
+"You must speak to one of the lieutenants, or get the midshipman of the
+watch to take in your message, if he will do it," said the sentry.
+
+"But they may laugh at me, and not believe what I have got to say,"
+urged Bill.  "Do let me pass,--the captain won't blame you, I am sure of
+that."
+
+The sentry declared that it was his duty not to allow any one to pass.
+
+While Bill was still pleading with him, the door of the inner cabin was
+opened, and the captain himself came out, prepared to go on deck.
+
+"What do you want, boy?" he asked, seeing Bill.
+
+"Please, sir, I have got something to tell you which you ought to know,"
+said Bill, pulling off his hat.
+
+"Let me hear it then," said the captain.
+
+"Please, sir, it will take some time.  You may have some questions to
+ask," answered Bill.
+
+On this the captain stepped back a few paces, out of earshot of the
+sentry.
+
+"What is it, boy?" he asked; "you seem to have some matter of importance
+to communicate."
+
+Bill then told him how he came to be among the prisoners, and had heard
+the American captain and his men talking together, and proposing to get
+the Frenchmen to rise with them to overpower the British crew.
+
+Captain Waring's countenance showed that he felt very much disposed to
+disbelieve what Bill had told him, or rather, to fancy that Bill was
+mistaken.
+
+"Stay there;" he said, and he went to the door of the cabin which he had
+allowed the American skipper to occupy.
+
+The berth was empty!  He came back and cross-questioned Bill further.
+Re-entering the inner cabin, he found the French captain seated at the
+table.
+
+"Monsieur Saint Julien," he said; "are you cognisant of the intention of
+the American captain to try and overpower my crew?"
+
+"The proposal was made to me, I confess, but I refused to accede to it
+with indignation; and I did not suppose that Captain Gregory would make
+the attempt, or I should have informed you at once," answered Saint
+Julien.
+
+"He does intend to make it, though," said Captain Waring, "and I depend
+on you and your officers to prevent your men from joining him."
+
+"I fear that we shall have lost our influence over our men, but we will
+stand by you should there be any outbreak," said the French captain.
+
+"I will trust you," observed Captain Waring.  "Go and speak to your
+officers while I take the steps necessary for our preservation."
+
+Captain Waring on this left the cabin, and going on deck, spoke to the
+first lieutenant and the midshipmen of the watch, who very speedily
+communicated the orders they had received to the other officers.
+
+The lieutenant of marines quickly turned out his men, while the
+boatswain roused up the most trustworthy of the seamen.  So quickly and
+silently all was done, that a strong body of officers and men well armed
+were collected on the quarter-deck before any of the prisoners were
+aware of what was going forward.  They were awaiting the captain's
+orders, when a loud report was heard.  A thick volume of smoke ascended
+from below, and the next instant, with loud cries and shouts, a number
+of the prisoners were seen springing up the hatchway ladders.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+THE FRIGATE BLOWN UP.
+
+The Americans had been joined by a number of the Frenchmen, and some few
+of the worst characters of the English crew--the jail-birds chiefly, who
+had been won over with the idea that they would sail away to some
+beautiful island, of which they might take possession; and live in
+independence, or else rove over the ocean with freedom from all
+discipline.
+
+They had armed themselves with billets of wood and handspikes; and some
+had got hold of knives and axes, which they had secreted.  They rushed
+on deck expecting quickly to overpower the watch.
+
+Great was their dismay to find themselves encountered by a strong body
+of armed men, who seized them, or knocked them down directly they
+appeared.
+
+So quickly were the first overpowered that they had no time to give the
+alarm to their confederates below, and thus, as fresh numbers came up,
+they were treated like the first.  In a couple of minutes the whole of
+the mutineers were overpowered.
+
+The Frenchmen who had not actually joined them cried out for mercy,
+declaring that they had no intention of doing so.
+
+What might have been the case had the Americans been successful was
+another matter.
+
+All those who had taken part in the outbreak having been secured,
+Captain Waring sent a party of marines to search for the American
+captain.  He was quickly found, and brought on the quarter-deck.
+
+"You have broken your word of honour; you have instigated the crew to
+mutiny, and I should be justified were I to run you up to the yard-arm!"
+said Captain Waring, sternly.
+
+"You would have done the same," answered the American captain, boldly.
+"Such acts when successful have always been applauded."
+
+"Not, sir, if I had given my word of honour, as you did, not to
+interfere with the discipline of the ship," said Captain Waring.  "You
+are now under arrest, and, with those who supported you, will remain in
+irons till we reach England."
+
+Captain Gregory had not a word to say for himself.  The French captain,
+far from pleading for him, expressed his satisfaction that he had been
+so treated.
+
+He and the officers who had joined him were marched off under a guard to
+have their irons fixed on by the armourer.
+
+After this it became necessary to keep a strict watch on all the
+prisoners, and especially on the Americans, a large proportion of whom
+were found to be English seamen, and some of the _Foxhound's_ crew
+recognised old shipmates among them.
+
+Captain Waring, believing that he could trust to the French captain and
+his officers, allowed them to remain on their parole, a circumstance
+which greatly aggravated the feelings of Captain Gregory.
+
+The captain had not forgotten Bill, who, by the timely information he
+had given, had materially contributed to preserve the ship from capture.
+Bill himself did not think that he had done anything wonderful; his
+chief anxiety was lest the fact of his having given the information
+should become known.  The sentinel might guess at it, but otherwise the
+captain alone could know anything about it.  Bill, as soon as he had
+told his story to the captain, and found that it was credited, stole
+away forward among the rest of the crew on deck, where he took very good
+care not to say a word of what had happened; so that not till the
+trustworthy men received orders to be prepared for an outbreak were they
+aware of what was likely to occur.
+
+He therefore fancied that his secret had been kept, and that it would
+never be known; he was, consequently, surprised when the following
+morning the ship's corporal, touching his shoulder, told him that the
+captain wanted to speak to him.
+
+Bill went aft, feeling somewhat alarmed at the thoughts of being spoken
+to by the captain.
+
+On the previous evening he had been excited by being impressed with the
+importance of the matter he was about to communicate, but now he had
+time to wonder what the captain would say to him.
+
+He met Tom and Jack by the way.
+
+"Where are you going?" asked Tom.
+
+Bill told him.
+
+"I shouldn't wish to be in your shoes," remarked Tom.  "What have you
+been about?"
+
+Bill could not stop to answer, but followed his conductor to the cabin
+door.
+
+The sentry, without inquiry, admitted him.
+
+The captain, who was seated at a table in the cabin, near which the
+first lieutenant was standing, received him with a kind look.
+
+"What is your name, boy?" he asked.
+
+"William Rayner, sir," said Bill.
+
+"Can you read and write pretty well?"
+
+"No great hand at either, sir," answered Bill.  "Mother taught me when I
+was a little chap, but I have not had much chance of learning since
+then."
+
+"Should you like to improve yourself?" asked the captain.
+
+"Yes, sir; but I have not books, or paper, or pens."
+
+"We'll see about that," said the captain.  "The information you gave me
+last night was of the greatest importance, and I wish to find some means
+of rewarding you.  When we reach England, I will make known your conduct
+to the proper authorities, and I should like to communicate with your
+parents."
+
+"Please, sir, I have no parents; they are both dead, and I have no
+relations that I know of; but I am much obliged to you, sir," answered
+Bill, who kept wondering what the captain was driving at.
+
+"Well, my boy, I will keep an eye on you," said the captain.  "Mr
+Saltwell, you will see what is best to be done with William Rayner," he
+added, turning to the first lieutenant.  "If you wish to learn to read
+and write, you can come and get instruction every day from my clerk, Mr
+Finch.  I will give him directions to teach you; but remember you are
+not forced to do it."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Bill.  "I should like to learn very much."
+
+After a few more words, the captain dismissed Bill, who felt greatly
+relieved when the formidable interview was over.
+
+As he wisely kept secret the fact of his having given information of the
+mutiny, his messmates wondered what could have induced the captain so
+suddenly to take an interest in him.
+
+Every day he went aft for his lesson, and Mr Finch, who was a
+good-natured young man, was very kind.  Bill, who was remarkably quick,
+made great progress, and his instructor was much pleased with him.
+
+He could soon read easily, and Mr Finch, by the captain's orders, lent
+him several books.
+
+The master's assistant, calling him one day, told him that he had
+received orders from the captain to teach him navigation, and, greatly
+to his surprise, put a quadrant into his hands, and showed him how to
+use it.
+
+Bill all this time had not an inkling of what the captain intended for
+him.  It never occurred to him that the captain could have perceived any
+merits or qualifications sufficient to raise him out of his present
+position, but he was content to do his duty where he was.
+
+Tom felt somewhat jealous of the favour Bill was receiving, though he
+pretended to pity him for having to go and learn lessons every day.
+Tom, indeed, knew a good deal more than Bill, as he had been at school,
+and could read very well, though he could not boast much of his writing.
+
+Jack could neither read nor write, and had no great ambition to learn;
+but he was glad, as Bill seemed to like it, that he had the chance of
+picking up knowledge.
+
+"Perhaps the captain intends to make you his clerk, or maybe some day
+you will become his coxswain," observed Jack, whose ambition soared no
+higher.  "I should like to be that, but I suppose that it is not
+necessary to be able to read, or write, or sum.  I never could make any
+hand at those things, but you seem up to them, and so it's all right
+that you should learn."
+
+Notwithstanding the mark of distinction Bill was receiving, the three
+young messmates remained very good friends.
+
+Bill, however, found himself much better off than he had before been.
+That the captain patronised him was soon known to all, and few ventured
+to lay a rope's-end on his back, as formerly, while he was well treated
+in other respects.
+
+Bill kept his eyes open and his wits awake on all occasions, and thus
+rapidly picked up a good knowledge of seamanship, such as few boys of
+his age who had been so short a time at sea possessed.
+
+The _Foxhound_ and her prizes were slowly making their way to England.
+No enemy appeared to rob her of them, though they were detained by
+contrary winds for some time in the chops of the Channel.
+
+At length the wind shifted a point or two, and they were able to get
+some way up it.  The weather, however, became cloudy and dark, and no
+observation could be taken.
+
+It was a trying time, for the provisions and water, in consequence of
+the number of souls on board, had run short.
+
+The captain was doubly anxious to get into port; still, do all he could,
+but little progress was made, till one night the wind again shifted and
+the sky cleared.  The master was aware that the ship was farther over to
+the French coast than was desirable, but her exact position it was
+difficult to determine.
+
+The first streaks of sunlight had appeared in the eastern sky, when the
+look-out shouted--
+
+"A ship to the southward, under all sail."
+
+As the sun rose, his rays fell on the white canvas of the stranger,
+which was now seen clearly, standing towards the _Foxhound_.
+
+Captain Waring made a signal to the two prizes, which were somewhat to
+the northward, to make all sail for Plymouth, while the _Foxhound_,
+under more moderate canvas, stood off shore.
+
+Should the stranger prove an enemy, of which there was little doubt,
+Captain Waring determined to try and draw her away from the French
+coast, which could be dimly seen in the distance.  He, at the same time,
+did not wish to make an enemy suppose that he was flying.  Though ready
+enough to fight, he would rather first have got rid of his prisoners,
+but that could not now be done.
+
+It was necessary, therefore, to double the sentries over them, and to
+make them clearly understand that, should any of them attempt in any way
+to interfere, they would immediately be shot.
+
+Jack, Tom, and Bill had seen the stranger in the distance, and they
+guessed that they should before long be engaged in a fierce fight with
+her.  There was no doubt that she was French.  She was coming up
+rapidly.
+
+The captain now ordered the ship to be cleared for action.  The men went
+readily to their guns.  They did not ask whether a big or small ship was
+to be their opponent, but stood prepared to fight as long as the captain
+and officers ordered them, hoping, at all events, to beat the enemy.
+
+The powder-monkeys, as before, having been sent down to bring up the
+ammunition, took their places on their tubs.  Of course they could see
+but little of what was going forward, but through one of the ports they
+at last caught sight of the enemy, which appeared to be considerably
+larger than the _Foxhound_.
+
+"We have been and caught a Tartar," Bill heard one of the seamen
+observe.
+
+"Maybe.  But whether Turk or Tartar, we'll beat him," answered another.
+
+An order was passed along the decks that not a gun should be fired till
+the captain gave the word.  The boys had not forgotten their fight a few
+weeks before, and had an idea that this was to turn out something like
+that.  Then the shot of the enemy had passed between the masts and the
+rigging; but scarcely one had struck the hull, nor had a man been hurt,
+so they had begun to fancy that fighting was a very bloodless affair.
+
+"What shall we do with the prisoners, if we take her, I wonder?" asked
+Tom.  "We've got Monsieurs enough on board already."
+
+"I daresay the captain will know what to do with them," responded Bill.
+
+"We must not count our chickens before they're hatched," said Jack.
+"Howsumdever, we'll do our best."  Jack's remark, which was heard by
+some of the crew of the gun near which he was seated, caused a laugh.
+
+"What do you call your best, Jack?" asked Ned Green.
+
+"Sitting on my tub, and handing out the powder as you want it," answered
+Jack.  "What more would you have me do, I should like to know?"
+
+"Well said, Jack," observed Green.  "We'll work our guns as fast as we
+can, and you'll hand out the powder as we want it."
+
+The talking was cut short by the voices of the officers ordering the men
+to be ready for action.
+
+The crews of the guns laid hold of the tackles, while the captains stood
+with the lanyards in their hands, waiting for the word of command, and
+ready at a moment's notice to fire.
+
+The big ship got nearer and nearer.  She could now be seen through the
+ports on the starboard side.
+
+"Well, but she's a whopper!" exclaimed Ned Green, "though I hope we'll
+whop her, notwithstanding.  Now, boys, we'll show the Monsieurs what we
+can do."
+
+Just then came the word along the decks--
+
+"Fire!"
+
+And the guns on the starboard side, with a loud roar, sent forth their
+missiles of death.
+
+While the crew were running them in to re-load, the enemy fired in
+return; their shot came crashing against the sides, some sweeping the
+upper deck, others making their way through the ports.
+
+The smoke from the guns curled round in thick eddies, through which
+objects could be but dimly seen.
+
+The boys looked at each other.  All of them were seated on their tubs,
+but they could see several forms stretched on the deck, some
+convulsively moving their limbs, others stilled in death.
+
+This was likely to be a very different affair from the former action.
+
+Having handed out the powder, Jack, Tom, and Bill returned to their
+places once more.
+
+The _Foxhound's_ guns again thundered forth, and directly after there
+came the crashing sound of shot, rending the stout sides of the ship.
+
+For several minutes the roar was incessant.  Presently a cheer was heard
+from the deck.
+
+One of the Frenchman's masts had gone over the side; but before many
+minutes had elapsed, a crashing sound overhead showed that the
+_Foxhound_ had been equally unfortunate.
+
+Her foremast had been shot away by the board, carrying with it the
+bowsprit and maintopmast.
+
+She was thus rendered almost unmanageable, but still her brave captain
+maintained the unequal contest.
+
+The guns, as they could be brought to bear, were fired at the enemy with
+such effect that she was compelled to sheer off to repair damages.
+
+On seeing this, the crew of the _Foxhound_ gave another hearty cheer;
+but ere the sound had died away, down came the mainmast, followed by the
+mizenmast, and the frigate lay an almost helpless hulk on the water.
+
+Captain Waring at once gave the order to clear the wreck, intending to
+get up jury-masts, so as to be in a condition to renew the combat should
+the French ship again attack them.
+
+All hands were thus busily employed.  The powder in the meantime was
+returned to the magazine, and the guns run in and secured.
+
+The ship was in a critical condition.
+
+The carpenters, before anything else could be done, had to stop the
+shot-holes between wind and water, through which the sea was pouring in
+several places.
+
+It was possible that the prisoners might not resist the temptation,
+while the crew were engaged, to attempt retaking the ship.
+
+The captain and officers redoubled their watchfulness.  The crew went
+steadily about their work, as men who knew that their lives depended on
+their exertions.  Even the stoutest-hearted, however, looked grave.
+
+The weather was changing for the worse, and should the wind come from
+the northward, they would have a hard matter to escape being wrecked,
+even could they keep the ship afloat.
+
+The enemy, too, was near at hand, and might at any moment bear down upon
+them, and recommence the action.
+
+The first lieutenant, as he was coming along the deck, met Bill, who was
+trying to make himself useful in helping where he was wanted.
+
+"Rayner," said Mr Saltwell, "I want you to keep an eye on the
+prisoners, and report to the captain or me, should you see anything
+suspicious in their conduct--if they are talking together, or look as if
+they were waiting for a signal.  I know I can trust you, my boy."
+
+Bill touched his hat.
+
+"I will do my best, sir," he answered; and he slipped down to where the
+prisoners were congregated.
+
+They did not suspect that he had before informed the captain of their
+intended outbreak, or it would have fared but ill with him.
+
+Whatever might have been their intentions, they seemed aware that they
+were carefully watched, and showed no inclination to create a
+disturbance.
+
+The greatest efforts were now made to set up the jury-masts.  The wind
+was increasing, and the sea rising every minute.  The day also was
+drawing on, and matters were getting worse and worse; still Captain
+Waring and his staunch crew worked away undaunted.  If they could once
+get up the jury-masts, a course might be steered either for the Isle of
+Wight or Plymouth.  Sails had been got up from below; the masts were
+ready to raise, when there came a cry of, "The enemy is standing towards
+us!"
+
+"We must beat her off, and then go to work again," cried the captain.
+
+A cheer was the response.  The powder-magazine was again opened.  The
+men flew to their guns, and prepared for the expected conflict.
+
+The French ship soon began to fire, the English returning their salute
+with interest.  The round shot, as before, whistled across the deck,
+killing and wounding several of the crew.
+
+The sky became still more overcast; the lightning darted from the
+clouds; the thunder rattled, mocked by the roaring of the guns.
+
+Bill saw his shipmates knocked over on every side; but, as soon as one
+of the crew of a gun was killed, another took his place, or the
+remainder worked the gun with as much rapidity as before.
+
+The cockpit was soon full of wounded men.  Though things were as bad as
+they could be, the captain had resolved not to yield.
+
+The officers went about the decks encouraging the crew, assuring them
+that they would speedily beat off the enemy.
+
+Every man, even the idlest, was doing his duty.
+
+Jack, Tom, and Bill were doing theirs.
+
+Suddenly a cry arose from below of "Fire! fire!" and the next moment
+thick wreaths of smoke ascended through the hatchways, increasing every
+instant in density.
+
+The firemen were called away.  Even at that awful moment the captain and
+officers maintained their calmness.
+
+Now was the time to try what the men were made of.  The greater number
+obeyed the orders they received.  Buckets were handed up and filled with
+water to dash over the seat of the fire.  Blankets were saturated and
+sent down below.
+
+The enemy ceased firing, and endeavoured to haul off from the
+neighbourhood of the ill-fated ship.  In spite of all the efforts made,
+the smoke increased, and flames came rushing up from below.  Still, the
+crew laboured on; hope had not entirely abandoned them, when suddenly a
+loud roar was heard, the decks were torn up, and hundreds of men in one
+moment were launched into eternity.
+
+Jack, Tom, and Bill had before this made their escape to the upper deck.
+They had been talking together, wondering what was next to happen, when
+Bill lost all consciousness; but in a few moments recovering his senses,
+found himself in the sea, clinging to a piece of wreck.
+
+He heard voices, but could see no one.  He called to Tom and Jack,
+fancying that they must be near him, but no answer came.
+
+He must have been thrown, he knew, to some distance from the ship, for
+he could see the burning wreck, and the wind appeared to be driving him
+farther and farther away from it.
+
+The guns as they became heated went off, and he could hear the shot
+splashing in the water around him.
+
+"And Jack and Tom have been lost, poor fellows!" he thought to himself.
+"I wish they had been sent here.  There's room enough for them on this
+piece of wreck.
+
+"We might have held out till to-morrow morning, when some vessel might
+have seen us and picked us up."
+
+Curiously enough, he did not think much about himself.  Though he was
+thankful to have been saved, he guessed truly that the greater number of
+his shipmates, and the unfortunate prisoners on board, must have been
+lost; yet he regretted Jack and Tom more than all the rest.
+
+The flames from the burning ship cast a bright glare far and wide over
+the ocean, tinging the foam-topped seas.
+
+Bill kept gazing towards the ship.  He could make out the Frenchman at
+some distance off, and fancied that he saw boats pulling across the
+tossing waters.
+
+On the other side he could distinguish another vessel, which was also,
+he hoped, sending her boats to the relief of the sufferers.
+
+The whole ship, however, appeared so completely enveloped in fire, the
+flames bursting out from all the ports and rising through every
+hatchway, that he could not suppose it possible any had escaped.
+
+He found it a hard matter to cling on to the piece of wreck, for the
+seas were constantly washing over him.  Happily it was weighted below,
+so that it remained tolerably steady.  Had it rolled over and over he
+must inevitably have lost his hold and been drowned.
+
+Though he had had very little of what is called enjoyment in life, and
+his prospects, as far as he could see, were none of the brightest, he
+still had no wish to die, and the instinct of self-preservation made him
+cling to the wreck with might and main.
+
+The tide, which was setting towards the shore, had got hold of his raft,
+which was also driven by the wind in the same direction, and he found
+himself drifting gradually away from the burning ship, and his chance of
+being picked up by one of the boats diminishing.
+
+He remembered that land had been in sight some time before the action,
+but how far the ship had been from it when she caught fire he could not
+tell, and when he turned his eyes to the southward he could see nothing
+of it.
+
+Some hours had passed away, so it seemed to him, when, as he turned his
+eyes towards the ship, the flames appeared to rise up higher than ever.
+Her stout hull was a mass of fire fore and aft--she was burning down to
+the water's edge.  Then came the end--the wild waves washed over her,
+and all was dark.
+
+"There goes the old ship," thought Bill.  "I wonder how many on board
+her a few hours ago are now alive.  Shall I reach the shore to-morrow
+morning?  I don't see much chance of it, and if I don't, how shall I
+ever live through another day?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+PICKED UP BY A FISHING-VESSEL.
+
+After a time, Bill began to feel very hungry, and then he recollected
+that at dinner he had clapped a biscuit into his pocket.  He felt for
+it.  It was soaked through and through, and nearly turned into paste,
+but it served to stay his appetite, and to keep up his strength.  At
+length he became somewhat drowsy, but he did his best to keep awake.
+Feeling about, he got hold of a piece of rope, with which he managed to
+secure himself to the raft.  Had he found it before, it would have saved
+him much exertion.
+
+The feeling that there was now less risk of being washed away, made him
+not so anxious as at first to withstand the strong desire which had
+attacked him, and yielding to it, his eyes closed, and he dropped off to
+sleep.
+
+How long he had been in that state he could not tell, when he was
+aroused by the sound of human voices.  Opening his eyes, he found that
+the sun was shining down upon him, and looking round, he saw a small
+vessel approaching.  He soon made her out to be a fishing craft with
+five people on board.
+
+They hailed him, but he was too weak to answer.  He managed, however, to
+wave one of his hands to show that he was alive.
+
+The fishing-vessel came on, and hove-to close to him.  The sea had
+considerably gone down.  A boat was launched from her deck, and pulled
+up to the raft, with two men in her.
+
+They said something, but Bill could not understand them.  One of them,
+as they got up alongside, sprang on to the raft, and casting off the
+lashings which held Bill to it, the next instant was safe in the boat
+with him in his arms.
+
+The man having placed him in the stern-sheets, the boat quickly returned
+to the cutter.
+
+Bill was lifted on board, and the boat was then hauled up again on the
+cutter's deck.  His preservers, though rough-looking men, uttered
+exclamations in kind tones which assured Bill that he had fallen into
+good hands.  One of them then carried him down into the little cabin,
+and stripping off his wet clothes, placed him between the blankets in a
+berth on one side.
+
+In a few minutes the same man, who appeared to be the captain of the
+fishing-vessel, returned with a cup of hot coffee and some white bread.
+Stirring the coffee and blowing to cool it, he made signs to Bill that
+he must drink some of it.
+
+This Bill very gladly did, and he then felt able to eat some of the
+bread, which seemed very sweet and nice.  This greatly restored his
+strength.
+
+He wished, however, that he could answer the questions which the men put
+to him.  He guessed that they were Frenchmen, but not a word of French
+did he know.
+
+At last another man came into the cabin.
+
+"You English boy?" asked the man.
+
+"Yes," said Bill.
+
+"Ship burn; blow up?" was the next question put to Bill, the speaker
+showing what he meant by suitable action.
+
+"Yes," said Bill, "and I am afraid all my shipmates are lost.  Though
+you are French, you won't send me to prison, I hope?"
+
+"Have no fear," answered the man, smiling; and turning round to his
+companions, he explained what Bill had said.  They smiled, and Bill
+heard them say, "Pauvre garcon."
+
+"No! no! no!  You sleep now, we take care of you," said the interpreter,
+whose knowledge of English was, however, somewhat limited.
+
+Bill felt a strong inclination to follow the advice given him.  One of
+the men, bundling up his wet clothes, carried them to dry at the little
+galley fire forward.  The rest went on deck, and Bill in another minute
+fell fast asleep.  Where the cutter was going Bill could not tell.  He
+had known her to be a fishing-vessel by seeing the nets on deck, and he
+had guessed that she was French by the way in which the people on board
+had spoken.  They had given evidence also that they intended to treat
+him kindly.
+
+Some hours must have passed away when Bill again awoke, feeling very
+hungry.  It was daylight, and he saw that his clothes were laid at the
+foot of his berth.
+
+Finding that his strength had returned, he got up, and began dressing
+himself.  He had just finished when he saw that there was some one in
+the opposite berth.  "Perhaps the skipper was up all night, and has
+turned in," thought Bill; but as he looked again, he saw that the head
+was certainly not that of a man, but the face was turned away from him.
+
+His intention was to go on deck, to try and thank the French fishermen,
+as far as he was able, for saving his life, but before he did so
+curiosity prompted him to look again into the berth.
+
+What was his surprise and joy to recognise the features of his shipmate,
+Jack Peek!  His face was very pale, but he was breathing, which showed
+that he was alive.  At all events, Bill thought that he would not awake
+him, eager as he was to know how he had been saved.
+
+He went up on deck, hoping that the man who had spoken a few words of
+English might be able to tell him how Jack had been picked up.  On
+reaching the deck he found that the vessel was close in with the land.
+She was towing a shattered gig, which Bill recognised as one of those
+belonging to the _Foxhound_.  He at once conjectured that Jack had
+managed somehow or other to get into her.
+
+As soon as he appeared, the Frenchmen began talking to him, forgetting
+that he was unable to understand them.  As he made no reply, they
+recollected themselves, and began laughing at their own stupidity.
+
+One of them shouted down the fore-hatchway, and presently the
+interpreter, as Bill called him, made his appearance.
+
+"Glad see you.  All right now?" he said, in a tone of interrogation.
+
+"All right," said Bill, "but I want you to tell me how you happened to
+find my shipmate Jack Peek;" and Bill pointed down into the cabin.
+
+"He, friend! not broder! no!  We find him in boat, but he not say how he
+got dere.  Two oder men, but dey dead, so we heave dem overboard, and
+take boat in tow," answered the man.
+
+Jack himself was probably not likely to be able to give any more
+information than the Frenchman had done.  Suddenly it struck his new
+friends that Bill might be hungry, and the interpreter said to him, "You
+want manger," pointing to Bill's mouth.
+
+Bill understood him.  "Yes, indeed I do; I am ready for anything you can
+give me," he said.
+
+The fire was lighted, while a pot was put to boil on it, and, greatly to
+Bill's satisfaction, in a few minutes one of the men, who acted as cook,
+poured the contents into a huge basin which was placed on the deck, and
+smaller basins and wooden spoons were handed up from below.
+
+One man remaining at the helm, the remainder sat down and ladled the
+soup into the smaller basins.
+
+Bill eagerly held out his.
+
+The mess, which consisted of fowl and pork and a variety of vegetables,
+smelt very tempting, and as soon as it was cool enough, Bill devoured it
+with a good appetite.
+
+His friends asked him by signs if he would have any more.
+
+"Thank you," he answered, holding out his basin.  "A spoonful or two;
+but we must not forget Jack Peek.  When he awakes, he will be glad of
+some;" and he pointed into the cabin.
+
+The Frenchmen understood him, and made signs that they would keep some
+for his friend, one of them patting him on the back and calling him "Bon
+garcon."
+
+Bill, after remaining some time on deck, again felt sleepy, and his head
+began to nod.
+
+The Frenchmen, seeing this, told him to go below.  He gladly followed
+their advice, and descending into the cabin, lay down, and was once more
+fast asleep.
+
+The next time he awoke he found that the vessel was at anchor.  He got
+up, and looked into Jack's berth.  Jack at that moment turned round, and
+opening his eyes, saw his shipmate.
+
+"Why, Bill, is it you!" he exclaimed.  "I am main glad to see you; but
+where are we?--how did I come here?  I thought that I was in the
+captain's gig with Tom Nokes and Dick Harbour.  What has become of them?
+They were terribly hurt, poor fellows! though they managed to crawl on
+board the gig."
+
+Bill told him what he had learned from the Frenchman.
+
+"They seem kind sort of fellows, and we have fallen into good hands," he
+added; "but what they're going to do with us is more than I can tell."
+
+Just then the captain of the fishing-vessel came below, and seeing that
+Jack was awake, he called out to one of the men to bring a basin of the
+soup which had been kept for him.
+
+While he was swallowing it, a man brought him his clothes, which had
+been sent forward to dry.  The captain then made signs to him to dress,
+as he intended taking them both on shore with him.
+
+Bill helped Jack, who was somewhat weak, to get on his clothes.  They
+then went on deck.
+
+The vessel lay in a small harbour, protected by a reef of rocks from the
+sea.  Near the shore were a number of cottages, and on one side of the
+harbour a line of cliffs running away to the eastward.
+
+Several other small vessels and open boats lay at anchor around.
+
+The captain, with the interpreter, whose name they found was Pierre, got
+into the boat, the latter telling the lads to come with them.
+
+They did as they were directed, sitting down in the stern-sheets, while
+the captain and Pierre took the oars and pulled towards the shore.
+
+It was now evening, and almost dark.  They saw the lights shining in the
+windows of several of the cottages.
+
+Pierre was a young man about nineteen or twenty, and, they fancied, must
+be the captain's son.  They were right, they found, in their
+conjectures.
+
+Pierre made them understand, in his broken language, that he had some
+short time before been a prisoner in England, where he had been treated
+very kindly; but before he had time to learn much English, he had been
+exchanged.
+
+This had made him anxious to show kindness to the young English lads.
+
+"Come along," said Pierre, as they reached the shore.  "I show you my
+house, my mere, and my soeur.  They take care of you; but mind! you not
+go out till dey tell you, or de gendarmes take you to prison perhaps.
+Do not speak now till we get into de house."
+
+Bill and Jack followed their guide while the old man rowed back to the
+vessel.
+
+Pierre led them to a cottage a little distance from the shore, which
+appeared to be somewhat larger than those they had passed.  He opened
+the door, telling them to come in with him, when he immediately again
+closed it.
+
+A middle-aged woman and a young girl, in high white caps with flaps over
+the shoulders, were seated spinning.  They started up on seeing the two
+young strangers, and began inquiring of Pierre who they were.  His
+explanation soon satisfied them, and jumping up, Madame Turgot and
+Jeannette took their hands, and began pouring out in voluble language
+their welcomes.
+
+"You say `Merci! merci!'" said Pierre, "which means `Thank you! thank
+you!'"
+
+"Merci! merci!" said Jack and Bill.
+
+It was the first word of French they learned, and, as Jack observed,
+came in very convenient.
+
+What the mother and her daughter said they could not make out, but they
+understood well enough that the French women intended to be kind.
+
+"You hungry?" asked Pierre.
+
+"Very," answered Jack.
+
+Pierre said something to his mother and sister, who at once set about
+spreading a cloth and placing eatables on the table--bread and cheese,
+and pickled fish, and some salad.
+
+"Merci! merci!" said Jack and Bill, as their hostess made signs to them
+to fall to.  Pierre joined them, and in a short time Captain Turgot
+himself came in.  He was as hospitably inclined as his wife and
+daughter, and kept pressing the food upon the boys.
+
+"Merci! merci!" was their answer.
+
+At last Jeannette began to laugh, as if she thought it a good joke.
+
+Jack and Bill tried hard to understand what was said.  Pierre observed
+them listening, and did his best to explain.
+
+From him they learned that they must remain quiet in the house, or they
+might be carried away as prisoners of war.  He and his father wished to
+save them from this, and intended, if they had the opportunity, enabling
+them to get back to England.
+
+"But how will you manage that?" asked Bill.
+
+Pierre looked very knowing, and gave them to understand that smuggling
+vessels occasionally came into the harbour, and that they might easily
+get on board one of them, and reach the English coast.
+
+"But we do not wish to get rid of you," said Pierre.  "If you like to
+remain with us, you shall learn French, and become French boys; and you
+can then go out and help us fish, and gain your livelihood."
+
+Pierre did not say this in as many words, but Jack and Bill agreed that
+such was his meaning.
+
+"He's very kind," observed Bill; "but for my part, I should not wish to
+become a French boy; though I would not mind remaining for a while with
+the French dame and her daughter, for they're both very kind, and we
+shall have a happy time of it."
+
+This was said a day or two after their arrival.
+
+Captain Turgot had fitted them up a couple of bunks in a small room in
+which Pierre slept, and they were both far more comfortable than they
+had ever been in their lives.
+
+Captain Turgot's cottage was far superior to that of Jack's father; and
+as for Bill, he had never before slept in so soft a bed.  They had to
+remain in the house, however, all day; but Captain Turgot or Pierre took
+them out in the evening, when they could not be observed, to stretch
+their legs and get a little fresh air.
+
+They tried to make themselves useful by helping Madame Turgot, and they
+rapidly picked up from her and her daughter a good amount of French, so
+that in a short time they were able to converse, though in a curious
+fashion, it must be owned.
+
+They soon got over their bashfulness, and asked the name of everything
+they saw, which Jeannette was always ready to tell them.  Their attempts
+at talking French afforded her vast amusement.
+
+Though kindly treated, they at length got tired of being shut up in the
+house, and were very well pleased when one day Captain Turgot brought
+them each a suit of clothes, and told them that he was going away to
+fish, and would take them with him.
+
+Next morning they went on board the cutter, and sail being soon
+afterwards made, she stood out of the harbour.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+TAKEN PRISONERS.
+
+Jack and Bill made themselves very useful in hauling the nets, and
+cleaning the fish when caught.  Jack was well up to the work, and showed
+Bill how to do it.  Captain Turgot was highly pleased, and called them
+"bons garcons," and said he hoped that they would remain with him till
+the war was over, and as much longer as they liked.  When the cutter
+returned into the harbour to land her fish, Jack and Bill were sent
+below, so that the authorities might not see them and carry them off.
+Captain Turgot was much afraid of losing them.  They were getting on
+famously with their French, and Bill could chatter away already at a
+great rate, though not in very good French, to be sure, for he made a
+number of blunders, which afforded constant amusement to his companions,
+but Pierre was always ready to set him right.
+
+Jack made much slower progress.  He could not, he said, twist his tongue
+about sufficiently to get out the words, even when he remembered them.
+Some, he found, were wonderfully like English, and those he recollected
+the best, though, to be sure, they had different meanings.  One day the
+cutter had stood out farther from the shore than usual, her nets being
+down, when, at daybreak, a strange sail was seen in the offing.  The
+captain, after taking one look at her, was convinced that she was an
+enemy.
+
+"Quick! quick! my sons," he shouted: "we must haul the nets and make
+sail, or we shall be caught by the English.  They are brave people, but
+I have no wish to see the inside of one of their prisons."
+
+All hands worked away as if their lives depended on their exertions.
+Jack and Bill lent a hand as usual.  They scarcely knew what to wish.
+Should the stranger prove to be an English ship, and come up with them,
+they would be restored to liberty; but, at the same time, they would
+feel very sorry that their kind friends should lose their vessel and be
+made prisoners; still, Jack wanted to let his mother know that he was
+alive, and Bill wished to be on board a man-of-war again, fighting for
+Old England, and getting a foot or two up the ratlines.
+
+His ambition had been aroused by what the captain had said to him, and
+the assistant master had observed, though he had spoken in joke, that he
+might, some day or other, become an admiral.
+
+Bill had thought the subject over and over, till he began to fancy that,
+could he get another chance, the road to fame might be open to him.  The
+loss of the ship with the captain and officers seemed, to be sure, to
+have overthrown all his hopes; but what had happened once might happen
+again, and by attending to his duty, and keeping his eyes open, and his
+wits awake, he might have another opportunity of distinguishing himself.
+
+No one could possibly have suspected what was passing in Bill's mind, as
+he worked away as energetically as the rest in stowing the nets and
+making sail.
+
+The stranger was now made out to a certainty to be an English frigate,
+and a fast one, too, by the way she slipped through the water.
+
+The wind was from the south-east, and being thus partially off shore,
+would enable the frigate to stand in closer to the land than she
+otherwise might have ventured to do.  This greatly diminished the
+chances of the cutter's escape.
+
+Captain Turgot, however, like a brave man, did not tear his hair, or
+stamp, or swear, as Frenchmen are sometimes supposed to do, but, taking
+the helm, set every sail his craft could carry, and did his best, by
+careful steering, to keep to windward of the enemy.
+
+Could he once get into harbour he would be safe, unless the frigate
+should send her boats in to cut his vessel out.  The cutter possessed a
+couple of long sweeps.  Should it fall calm, they would be of use; but
+at present the breeze was too strong to render them necessary.
+
+The crew kept looking astern to watch the progress made by their
+pursuer, which was evidently coming up with them.  What chance, indeed,
+had a little fishing craft with a dashing frigate?
+
+An idea occurred to Jack which had not struck Bill.
+
+"Suppose we are taken--and it looks to me as if we shall be before
+long--what will they say on board the frigate when they find us rigged
+out in fisherman's clothes?  They will be thinking we are deserters, and
+will be hanging us up at the yard-arm."
+
+"I hope it won't go so hard as that with us," answered Bill.  "We can
+tell them that the Frenchmen took away our clothes, and rigged us out in
+these, and we could not help ourselves."
+
+"But will they believe us?" asked Jack.
+
+On that point Bill acknowledged that there was some doubt; either way,
+he would be very sorry for Captain Turgot.  One thing could be said,
+that neither their fears nor wishes would prevent the frigate from
+capturing the cutter.  They looked upon that as a settled matter.  As
+long, however, as there was a possibility of escaping, Captain Turgot
+resolved to persevere.
+
+Matters began to look serious, when a flash and wreath of smoke was seen
+to issue from one of the bow guns of the frigate, and a shot came
+jumping over the water towards them.  It did not reach them, however.
+
+"You must get nearer, monsieur, before you hurt us," said the captain,
+as he watched the shot fall into the water.
+
+Shortly afterwards another followed.  It came close up to the cutter;
+but a miss is as good as a mile, and the little vessel was none the
+worse for it.
+
+Another shot, however, might produce a very different result.
+
+"I say, Bill, I don't quite like the look of things," observed Jack.
+"Our skipper had better give in, or one of those shot will be coming
+aboard us, and carrying somebody's head off."
+
+"He doesn't look as if he had any thoughts of the sort," said Bill; "and
+as long as there is any chance of keeping ahead, he'll stand on."
+
+Soon after Bill had made this remark, another shot was fired from the
+frigate, and passed alongside the cutter, falling some way ahead.
+
+Had it been better aimed, the effect might have been somewhat
+disastrous.  Still Captain Turgot kept at the helm.
+
+Some of the crew, however, began to cry out, and begged him to heave to.
+He pointed to the shore.
+
+"Do you want to see your wives and families again?" he asked.  "Look
+there!  How smooth the water is ahead.  The wind is falling, and the
+frigate will soon be becalmed.  She'll not think it worth while to send
+her boats after us.  Come! out with the sweeps, and we shall soon draw
+out of shot of her.  Look there! now her topsails are already flapping
+against the masts.  Be of good courage, my sons!"
+
+Thus incited, the crew got out the sweeps.
+
+Jack and Bill helped them with as much apparent good-will as if they had
+had no wish to be on board the frigate.
+
+The little vessel felt the effects of the powerful sweeps, and, in spite
+of the calm, continued to move ahead.
+
+Again and again the frigate fired at her, but she was a small object,
+and each shot missed.
+
+This encouraged the French crew, whose spirits rose as they saw their
+chance of escaping increase.
+
+Farther and farther they got from the frigate, which, with the
+uncertainty from what quarter the wind would next blow, was afraid of
+standing closer in shore.
+
+By nightfall the cutter, by dint of hard rowing, had got safe into
+harbour.
+
+When Dame Turgot and Jeannette heard what had occurred, they expressed
+their delight at seeing their young friends back.
+
+"We must not let you go to sea again, for it would be a sad thing to
+hear that you had been captured and shot for being deserters," said
+Jeannette.
+
+She had the same idea which had occurred to Jack.
+
+The English frigates were at this time so frequently seen off the coast,
+that Captain Turgot, who had several boats as well as the cutter,
+thought it prudent to confine his operations to inshore fishing, so as
+not to run the risk of being captured.
+
+Jack and Bill sometimes went out with him, but, for some reason or
+other, he more generally left them at home.
+
+Pierre, who was a good swimmer, induced them to come down and bathe with
+him in the morning, and gave them instruction in the art.
+
+Jack could already swim a little.  Bill took to it at once, and beat him
+hollow; in a short time being able to perform all sorts of evolutions.
+He was soon so perfectly at home in the water, that he declared he felt
+able to swim across the Channel, if he could carry some food with him to
+support himself on the way.
+
+Jack laughed at the idea, observing that "nobody ever had swum across
+the Channel, and he did not believe that anybody ever would do so."
+
+Pierre advised Bill not to make the attempt.
+
+"No fear," said Jack.  "He'll not go without me, and I am not going to
+drown myself if I can help it."
+
+Bill, however, often thought over the matter, and tried to devise some
+plan by which he and Jack might manage to get across.  His plans came to
+nothing; and, indeed, the Channel where they were was much too wide to
+be crossed except in a small vessel or in a large boat.  Jack was
+beginning to speak French pretty well, and Bill was able to gabble away
+with considerable fluency, greatly to the delight of Jeannette, who was
+his usual instructress.  He tried to teach her a little English in
+return, but she laughed at her own attempts, and declared that she
+should never be able to pronounce so break-jaw a language.
+
+Bill thought that she got on very well, but she seemed more anxious to
+teach him French than to learn English herself.
+
+Several weeks more passed by.  Well treated as they were, still the boys
+had a longing to return to England, though the opportunity of doing so
+appeared as far off as ever.
+
+They were in the house one afternoon, laughing and joking merrily with
+Jeannette, while Dame Turgot was away at the neighbouring town to
+market, when the door opened, and she entered, with a look of alarm on
+her countenance.
+
+"Quick, quick, come here!" she said; and seizing them both by the arms,
+she dragged them into the little inner room.
+
+"Pull off your clothes and jump into bed!" she exclaimed.  "Whatever you
+hear, don't move or speak, but pretend to be fast asleep."
+
+They obeyed her; and snatching up their jackets and trousers, she
+hurried from the room, locking the door behind her.
+
+She had just time to tumble their clothes into a chest, when a loud
+knocking was heard at the door.  She opened it, and several soldiers,
+under the command of a sergeant, entered.
+
+The boys guessed who they were by their voices, and the noise they made
+when grounding their muskets.
+
+"Well, messieurs," said Dame Turgot, with perfect composure, "and what
+do you want here?"
+
+"We come in search of prisoners.  It is reported that you have some
+concealed in your house," said the sergeant.
+
+"Ma foi! that is a good joke!  I conceal prisoners indeed!" exclaimed
+the dame, laughing.  "Pray who are these notable prisoners?"
+
+"That's for you to say.  We only know that you have prisoners," answered
+the sergeant.
+
+"Then, if you will have it so, one may possibly be a general, and the
+other an admiral, and the sooner they are lodged in the Bastille, the
+better for the safety of France," answered the dame, laughing.  "I am a
+loyal Frenchwoman, and can cry `Vive le Roi!'  `Vive la France!' with
+all my heart."
+
+Jack and Bill, who had quaked at the thoughts of being made prisoners by
+the soldiers, now began to have better hope of escaping.
+
+The sergeant, however, was not to be deceived by Dame Turgot's manner.
+
+"Come, come, I must search your house, notwithstanding.  For that
+purpose I was sent, and I must perform my duty," he said; and he hunted
+round the room.
+
+"Now let us look into your room;" and the soldiers, entering, began
+poking about with their bayonets, running them under the bed, and
+through the bedding, in a way likely to kill anybody concealed.
+
+Jeannette's little room was visited and treated in the same manner.
+
+"And what's this room?" asked the sergeant, pointing to the boys' room.
+
+"That?  That is a closet," answered the dame; "or if you like it, the
+general and admiral are both there fast asleep, but I am unwilling to
+disturb them."
+
+She said this in a laughing tone, as if she were joking.
+
+"Well, open the door," said the sergeant, not expecting to find anybody.
+
+"But I tell you the door is locked.  Who has got the key, I wonder?"
+said the dame.
+
+"Come, come, unlock the door, or we must force it open," said the
+sergeant, making as if he was about to prise it open with his bayonet.
+
+On this the dame pulled the key out of her pocket, and opening the door,
+exclaimed--
+
+"There in one bed you will find the general, and in the other the
+admiral; or, without joking, they are two poor boys whom my good man
+picked up at sea, and already they are more French than English."
+
+The sergeant, looking into the beds, discovered the boys.
+
+"Come, get up, mes garcons," he said; "you must come with me, whoever
+you are, and give an account of yourselves."
+
+Neither of the boys made any reply, deeming it wiser to keep silence.
+
+"Come along," he said; and he dragged first one, and then the other, out
+of bed.
+
+"Bring the boys' clothes," he added, turning to the dame, who quickly
+brought their original suits.
+
+They soon dressed themselves, hanging their knives round their necks.
+
+"I told you the truth.  You see who and what they are!" exclaimed the
+dame.
+
+Jeannette, too, pleaded eloquently on their behalf, but the sergeant was
+unmoved.
+
+"All you say may be right, but I must take them," he answered.  "Come--
+quick march!"
+
+He allowed them, however, to take an affectionate farewell of the dame
+and Jeannette, the latter bursting into tears as she saw them dragged
+off by the soldiers.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+SHUT UP IN A TOWER.
+
+Jack and Bill marched along in the middle of the party of soldiers,
+endeavouring, as well as they could, to keep up their spirits, and to
+appear unconcerned.  Where they were going they could not tell.
+
+"Jack," whispered Bill, "don't let these fellows know that we understand
+French.  We may learn something from what they say to each other; and
+they are not likely to tell us the truth, if we were to ask them
+questions."
+
+"Trust me for that," answered Jack.  "One might suppose, from the way
+they treat us, that they take us for desperate fellows, who would make
+nothing of knocking them down right and left, if it were not for their
+muskets and bayonets."
+
+"All right," responded Bill; "we'll keep our wits awake, and maybe we
+shall find an opportunity of getting away."
+
+"I am ready for anything you propose," said Jack.  "We might have found
+it more easy to make our escape if Madame Turgot had brought us back our
+French toggery; but still, for my part, I feel more comfortable-like in
+my own clothes."
+
+"So do I," said Bill.  "Somehow I fancy that I am more up to work
+dressed as an English sailor than I should be as a French boy.  I only
+hope our friends will not get into any scrape for having concealed us.
+They are wonderfully kind people, and I shall always be ready to do a
+good turn to a Frenchman for their sakes."
+
+"So shall I after I've thrashed him," said Jack.  "If the French will go
+to war with us, they must take the consequences."
+
+The soldiers did not interfere with the lads, but allowed them to talk
+on to each other as much as they liked.  The road they followed led them
+to the eastward, as far as they could judge, at no great distance from
+the shore.
+
+After marching about a couple of miles, they reached a small town, or
+village rather, the houses being scattered along the shores of another
+bay much larger than the one they had left.  A river of some size ran
+into the bay, and on a point of land near the mouth, on a height, stood
+an old tower, which had been built, apparently, for the purpose of
+guarding the entrance.
+
+It was in a somewhat dilapidated condition, and seemed now very unfit
+for its original object, for a few round shot would have speedily
+knocked it to pieces.  It might, however, afford shelter to a small body
+of infantry, who could fire from the loopholes in its walls down on any
+boats, attempting to ascend the river.
+
+"I wonder if they are going to shut us up there!" said Jack, as the
+sergeant led the party in the direction of the tower.
+
+"No doubt about it," replied Bill; "but it doesn't seem to be a very
+terrible place; and, by the look of the walls, I have a notion that I
+could climb to the top, or make my way down them, without the slightest
+difficulty."
+
+They had time to make their observations before they reached the
+entrance gate.
+
+A small guard of soldiers were stationed in the tower, to whose charge
+the prisoners were handed over.
+
+The officer commanding the party was a gruff old fellow, who seemed to
+have no feeling of compassion for his young prisoners.
+
+After putting various questions to the sergeant who had brought them, he
+made signs to them to accompany him to the top of the building, and led
+the way, attended by two soldiers who followed close behind, up a flight
+of exceedingly rickety stairs, which creaked and groaned as they
+ascended.
+
+On reaching the top the officer opened a door, which led into a small
+room, the highest apparently in the building; he then signed to the boys
+to go in, and without saying a word closed the door and locked it.  They
+soon afterwards heard him and his men descending the stairs.
+
+"Here we are," said Jack.  "I wonder what's going to happen next!"
+
+"Why, if they leave us here long enough, the next thing that will happen
+will be that we'll make our way out again," replied Bill.  "Look at
+those windows!  Though they are not very big, they are large enough for
+us to squeeze through, or it may be more convenient to make our way out
+by the roof.  I can see daylight through one or two places, which shows
+that the tiles are not very securely fastened on."
+
+"And if we do get out, where shall we go?" asked Jack.
+
+"It won't do to return to the Turgots; we might be getting them into
+trouble.  We must make our way down to the sea shore, and then travel on
+till we can reach some port or other, and when there try to get on board
+a smuggling lugger, as Captain Turgot at first proposed we should do,"
+replied Bill.
+
+"It may be a hard job to do that," said Jack; "and I should say it would
+be easier to run off with a boat or some small craft which we two could
+handle, and make our way in her across Channel.  I know where to find
+the polar star.  I have often been out at night when father steered by
+it, and we should be sure, some time or other, to make the English
+coast."
+
+"I should not like to run away with a poor man's vessel.  What would he
+say in the morning when he found his craft gone?" observed Bill.  "It
+would be taking what is not ours to take.  I never did and never would
+do that."
+
+Jack argued the point.
+
+"The French are enemies of the English," he said, "and therefore
+Englishmen have a perfect right to best them either afloat or on shore."
+
+Bill said he would consider the subject, and in the meantime they made a
+further survey of their prison.  It could not be called luxuriantly
+furnished, considering that there was only a bench of no great width
+running along the side of one of the walls, and the remains of a table.
+One of the legs had gone, and part of the top, and it was propped up by
+a couple of empty casks.
+
+There were neither bedsteads nor bedding of any description, but the
+bench was of sufficient length to allow both the boys to lie down on it.
+
+The sun was on the point of setting when they reached the tower, and
+darkness soon stole on them.
+
+"I wonder whether they intend to give us any supper," said Jack, "or do
+they expect us to live on air?"
+
+"I can hold out till to-morrow morning, but I should be thankful if they
+would bring us up something to-night; and we should be the better able
+to make our escape, if we have the opportunity," observed Bill.
+
+"Then I propose that we make a tremendous row, and that will bring some
+one up to sea what's the matter.  We can then point to our mouths to
+show that we are hungry, and perhaps they will take compassion on us,"
+said Jack.
+
+Bill agreeing to Jack's proposal, they began jumping and stamping about
+the room, and singing at the top of their voices, in a way which could
+scarcely fail to be heard by the men in the guard-room below.
+
+They were in a short time convinced that their proceedings had produced
+the desired effect; for when they ceased to make the noise, they heard
+the heavy step of a man ascending the creaking stairs.  It had not
+occurred to them that he might possibly come with a thick stick in his
+hand, to thrash them for making a row.  The idea, however, flashed
+across Jack's mind by the time the man was half-way up.
+
+"We may get more kicks than ha'pence for what we've been doing," he
+observed; "however, it cannot be helped; we must put a good face on the
+matter, and let him fancy that it is the way English boys have of
+showing when they are hungry.  If he does not make out what we mean,
+we'll say, `manger, manger,' and he'll then know what we want."
+
+Bill laughed.  He was not much afraid of a beating.  He reminded Jack
+that he must not say anything more than he proposed, or the Frenchmen
+might find out that they understood their language.
+
+The man came slowly up the steps, which creaked and groaned louder and
+louder.
+
+"I'll tell you what," said Bill.  "If those steps are as rotten as they
+appear to be, we might pull some of them up, and so prevent the guard
+from reaching this room, and finding out that we have made our escape."
+
+"We should have to get the door open first," observed Jack, "and that
+would be no easy matter."
+
+"More easy than you may suppose," said Bill.  "I'll try and shove
+something into the catch of the lock while the Frenchman is in the
+room."
+
+Just then the door opened, and a soldier entered, with a lantern in one
+hand, and, as Jack expected, a stick in the other.  It was not, however,
+a very thick one, and Jack thought, as he eyed it, that its blows,
+though they might hurt, would not break any bones; however, neither he
+nor Bill had any intention of being thrashed if they could help it.
+
+The soldier began at once to inquire, in an angry tone, why they had
+made so much noise.
+
+They pretended not to understand him; but as he lifted his stick to
+strike at them, they ran round the room, Jack shouting "Manger! manger!"
+and pointing to his mouth.
+
+He could easily manage to keep out of the Frenchman's reach, but at last
+he allowed himself to be caught for a minute at the farther end of the
+room, thus giving Bill time to reach the door.
+
+Bill made good use of the opportunity, while the Frenchman's back was
+turned, to carry out his intention.
+
+"All right," he cried out; and as soon as Jack heard him, he skipped out
+of the Frenchman's way, as he had no wish to receive more blows than he
+could avoid.  The soldier, on seeing Bill, attacked him next, but he
+easily evaded most of the blows aimed at him, till the soldier grew
+weary of the chase.
+
+"Manger! manger!" cried both the boys at once, in various tones,
+sometimes imploring, at others expostulating, and then as if they were
+excited by anger and indignation that they should be so treated.
+
+The soldier understood them clearly enough, and probably thought to
+himself that unless he could bring some food to keep the young prisoners
+quiet, he might have frequent trips to make to the top of the tower.
+
+"Ma foi!  I suppose that you have had nothing to eat for some hours," he
+observed, in French.  "I'll see what I can get for you; but remember,
+you must be quiet, or you will be left to starve."
+
+They were well pleased to hear this; but still pretending not to
+understand him, they continued crying out, "Manger! manger!"
+
+At last the soldier took his departure, locking the door, as he
+supposed, behind him.
+
+As soon as they knew, by the sounds he made descending the steps, that
+he had got some distance down, the boys ran to the door, and, to their
+satisfaction, found that they could easily open it, though it appeared
+to be securely locked.
+
+From the remarks the Frenchman had made, they had some hopes that he
+would bring them food; they therefore lay down on the bench to await his
+return.
+
+Greatly to their satisfaction, in a short time they again heard a step
+on the stair, and the soldier who had before paid them a visit entered,
+carrying a basket with some bread and cheese, dried figs, and some wine
+in a bottle.  He also brought up a piece of candle, and a lump of wood
+with a spike in it, which served as a candlestick.
+
+He placed these on the table with the contents of the basket.
+
+"There," he said, "eat away; you may have a long march to-morrow, and if
+you haven't strength we may have to carry you."
+
+The boys pretended not to understand him; but both exclaimed, as they
+saw the viands, "Merci! merci!" and put out their hands to shake that of
+the soldier, who seemed, while performing a kind action, to be in much
+better humour than before.
+
+"Mangez! mes braves garcons," he remarked.  "What is over you can have
+for breakfast to-morrow morning, as maybe you'll get nothing else
+brought you."
+
+"Merci! merci!" answered Jack and Bill, as they escorted the soldier to
+the door, letting him suppose that these were the only two words they
+understood.
+
+As soon as he had turned the key in the door, they hurried to the table,
+and eagerly devoured some of the bread and cheese.
+
+"It's fortunate we've got so large a stock of food," said Bill; "there's
+enough here, if we are careful of it, for a couple of days."
+
+There was in the bottle but a small allowance of wine, which was
+excessively sour; but it served to quench their thirst, though they
+agreed that they would much rather have had fresh water.
+
+Having finished their supper, they divided the remainder of the food
+into two portions, which they stowed away in their pockets.  They then
+waited till they had reason to suppose, from hearing no noise ascending
+the stairs, that the soldiers in the guard-room had gone to sleep.
+
+Having cautiously opened the door, they next examined the steps, and
+found that they could wrench up those of the upper part of the flight
+without making much noise.  They had to be quick about it, as their
+candle would soon burn out.
+
+First, having closed the door, they got up seven of the steps, beginning
+at the uppermost one, till they formed a gap which it would be
+impossible for a man to spring over.  The boards they carried down as
+they descended, when they found themselves in another storey, the whole
+of which was occupied by one large room without doors, the reason, of
+course, why it had not been made their prison.
+
+Their candle had now nearly burned out.  Having hung their shoes round
+their necks, they were able to step softly.  Hunting about, they
+discovered an empty space under the stairs, in which they stowed the
+pieces of wood.
+
+"Perhaps we might get down by the stairs," whispered Jack.
+
+"The chances are that we should find a door to stop us at the bottom,"
+returned Bill.  "We must try to get down the outside.  The walls are so
+full of holes that we might manage it, and I am ready to go first and
+try."
+
+The question was, on which side should they attempt to make their
+descent?  On looking through the narrow windows, they observed a gleam
+of light coming out below them on one side; probably that was from the
+guard-room, and they accordingly fixed on the opposite side, where all
+was dark.  They ran no little chance of breaking their necks, but about
+that they did not trouble themselves.  If a cat could get up, they
+believed that they could get down, by clinging with toes and fingers,
+and teeth, if necessary, to the wall.
+
+They, however, made the fullest examination in their power to ascertain
+the best spot for their descent; they looked out of every window in
+succession, but at last arrived at the conclusion that the attempt to
+scramble down a perpendicular wall was too hazardous to be made.  They
+now began to fear that their enterprise must be abandoned, and that they
+should be compelled to make their way first to a lower storey, which,
+for what they could tell, might be inhabited; or else that they must
+descend the creaking stairs, and run a still greater chance of being
+discovered.
+
+"Here's another window," said Bill; "let's look through that."
+
+He climbed up to it, and gazed out.  Great was his satisfaction to
+perceive the top of a massive wall a few feet below him.  The tower had
+been a portion of an old castle, and the end of this wall was a mass of
+ruins, but quite thick enough to enable them to scramble along the top
+of it, and Bill had no doubt that they thence could easily descend to,
+the level ground.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+THE ESCAPE--CONCEALED IN A CAVERN.
+
+Bill drew his head in from the window, and beckoned to Jack, who
+followed him up; and as there was no time to be lost, he at once dropped
+down on to the top of the wall.  Jack came next, fortunately without
+dislodging any stones, which might have rattled down and betrayed their
+proceedings.  Bill leading, they made their way on hands and knees along
+the top of the wall, which, being fringed in most places with bushes,
+contributed to conceal them from any passers-by.  They had to move
+cautiously for the reason before given, and also to avoid the risk of
+falling down any gap in the wall which time might have produced.
+
+As Bill had expected, the further end of the wall was broken gradually
+away, forming an easy descent.  Down this they climbed, feeling their
+way with their feet, and not letting go of one mass of ruin till they
+had found a foothold on a lower.  Thus they at length had the
+satisfaction of standing on the firm ground outside the walls.
+
+They had now to consider in which direction they should direct their
+flight.
+
+The river was on one side of them, and though they might swim across
+they would run the risk of being discovered while so doing.  They
+finally decided to make for the sea shore, to the westward of the bay,
+and to lie hid among the rocks till the search for them should be given
+up.
+
+They accordingly stole round the building, keeping on the side away from
+the guard-room, till they got into a lane which led at the back of the
+village down towards the shore.  If they could once get there they hoped
+to be safe.
+
+Few lights in the village were burning, as the inhabitants retired early
+to bed; but two or three still twinkled from some cottages at the
+farther end.  Possibly the owners had gone out fishing, and had only
+lately returned.
+
+They had got some distance from the tower, and no cottage was near, when
+Jack stopped.
+
+"I've been thinking that we might get on board one of the fishing-boats,
+which have just come in, and go off in her," he whispered.
+
+"I could not do it," said Bill.  "I have said before--what would the
+poor fishermen think in the morning when they found their boat gone, the
+only means they may have of supporting their wives and families?"
+
+Jack did not agree with Bill in this, but it was not a time to argue the
+point, so they set off again, and continued running till they reached a
+gap in the cliff, down which the road led.  They then made their way to
+the left, under the cliffs, in the direction of the village where they
+had so long resided.
+
+The tide was out, and they wisely kept close down to the water, so that
+the returning sea might obliterate their footsteps.
+
+Jack proposed returning to Captain Turgot's, but Bill observed that that
+would not be fair to their friends, who would, of course, be exposed to
+great danger by again harbouring them, and who yet would not like to
+deliver them up.
+
+"No, no, we must not do that," he said.  "The sooner we can find a place
+to hide in the better.  The cliff hereabouts appears to be broken, and
+full of hollows, and perhaps, if we search for it, we shall discover
+some spot fit for our purpose."
+
+While they were talking the moon rose; and, though on the decrease,
+afforded a good deal of light, and greatly assisted them in their
+search.
+
+The sea where they were would, they saw, at high tide, completely cover
+the whole beach, so they must take care to find a place beyond its
+reach.
+
+They anxiously searched about.  The night was drawing on, and they must
+find concealment before daylight, which would expose them to the view of
+any boats passing near the beach, or to people looking for them from the
+cliffs above.
+
+They climbed up at several places without discovering any hollow
+sufficiently deep to conceal them effectually; still they persevered,
+and at last they reached a black rock which projected out from the
+cliff, and ran some way down the beach.  From its appearance they saw
+that it must be covered at high-water.  They made their way round it, as
+the sides were too smooth to climb over, and then once more reached the
+foot of the cliff.
+
+The tide was now rising rapidly, and they saw that they would be exposed
+to the danger of being caught by the sea, could they not get some
+distance up the cliff.  They were hurrying on when Bill exclaimed--
+
+"There's a cave, and it may perhaps run some way back in the cliff.  We
+shall soon find out by the feel of the rock whether the water fills it
+up, and if not, we couldn't have a better hiding-place."
+
+They climbed up the slippery rock, and found themselves in a cavern with
+a low arched entrance.  This looked promising.  They groped their way
+onwards.  As they advanced, their ears caught the gentle sound of a tiny
+streamlet, which issued from the rock, while the ground beneath their
+feet was perfectly dry, consisting in some places of hard rock, in
+others of soft, warm sand.
+
+Looking back, they could distinguish the ocean, with the moonlight
+shining on it.
+
+"We shall be safe here, I think," said Bill.  "When daylight comes, we
+shall be able to find our way farther in, and perhaps discover some nook
+in which we may remain hidden, even were people to come to the mouth of
+the cave to look for us."
+
+Jack agreed that there was no risk of the tide rising to the place where
+they then were, so they sat down on the dry sand, and being tired from
+their exertions, very soon fell fast asleep.
+
+Jack was not much addicted to dreaming.  When he went to sleep he did so
+in right earnest, and might have slept through a general engagement, if
+he had not been called to take a part in it.
+
+Bill had a more imaginative mind, which was seldom altogether at rest.
+He fancied sometimes that he was escaping from the top of the tower, and
+tumbling head over heels to the bottom; at others that he was running
+along, with the Frenchmen shouting after him to stop.  Then he fancied
+that one with a long pair of legs had overtaken him, and was grasping
+him tightly by the arm.
+
+He awoke with a start, and found that Jack was trying to arouse him.
+Daylight was streaming through the mouth of the cavern; beyond could be
+seen the blue sea shining brightly in the rays of the sun, with a
+chasse-maree, or some other small vessel, gliding swiftly across it,
+impelled by a smart breeze off shore.
+
+Jack had taken it into his head that the people on board might see them.
+
+"I don't think there's much chance of that," said Bill.  "Even if they
+happen to turn their glasses this way, depend on it, if we sit quiet,
+they'll not discover us."
+
+The vessel soon disappeared, and they then looked about to examine more
+carefully the cavern in which they had taken refuge.
+
+The tide was still at its highest, and the water washed up to the ledge
+in front of the cavern.  The ground rose considerably above that point
+to where they sat, and on looking round they saw that it continued to
+rise behind them for some distance.
+
+Bill advised that they should at once explore it, observing that though,
+even at spring-tide, with the wind off shore, the water might not reach
+to where they sat; yet should a gale blow from the northward, it might
+drive the waves far up the cavern, and expose them to great danger.  "We
+cannot tell what may happen," he said, "and it's as well to be prepared
+for the worst.  Besides, if the soldiers come to look for us, they may
+find the mouth of the cavern, and make their way some distance in, but
+if they do not discover us they'll fancy we are not here, and go away
+again as wise as they came."
+
+Jack saw the wisdom of this proposal.  They accordingly groped their way
+on, aided by the light, which, though dim, pervaded the part of the
+cavern they had reached.  Every now and then they stopped, and, on
+looking back, could still see the entrance, with the bright sea beyond
+it.
+
+At length they came to a rock, which seemed to stop their further
+progress; but, feeling about them, found that the cavern made a turn
+here to the left.  They now proceeded with the greatest caution, for
+fear of coming to some hole down which they might fall.
+
+"If we had a torch we might see what sort of a place we have got to,"
+observed Jack.
+
+"But we haven't got a torch, and no chance of getting one; and so we
+must find out by making good use of our hands," answered Bill.  "We must
+move slowly on, and feel every inch of the way, putting out one hand
+before we lift up the other."
+
+They were groping forward on their hands and knees, and were in total
+darkness; still, as they looked back, there was a faint glimmer of
+light, which appeared round the corner of the rock, and this would
+enable them to find their way back again.  Hitherto they had met only
+with smooth rock, gently inclining upwards; possibly it might lead them,
+if they went on long enough, to the top of the cliff, though they hoped
+that there was no opening in that direction.
+
+Here, at all events, they thought that they should be secure, even
+should their pursuers enter the cavern.
+
+As they were getting hungry, they agreed to go back and eat their
+breakfast in daylight near the spring, which would afford them a draught
+of cool water.  They returned as they had come, feeling their way along
+the rock.
+
+Just before they reached the turning in the cavern, they discovered a
+recess which would hold both of them; and they agreed to make it their
+hiding-place should the soldiers by any chance come to look for them.
+
+Without much difficulty they got back to the spot where they had slept,
+which was close to the stream.  Here they sat down, and produced the
+provisions which they had brought from the tower.  On examining their
+stock, they calculated that they had sufficient to last them for a
+couple of days.
+
+"When that's gone, what shall we do?" asked Jack.
+
+"We must try to pick up some shell-fish from the rocks," answered Bill.
+"The soldiers by that time will have got tired of looking for us, and if
+any persons from the top of the cliffs see us they won't know who we
+are, and will fancy we are fisher-boys getting bait.  Perhaps before
+that time a smuggling lugger may come off here, and we may manage to
+hail her before we run short of food; at all events, there's no use
+being frightened about what may happen."
+
+Every now and then one or the other went towards the mouth of the cave
+to look out.  As long as the tide remained high there was no danger of
+their being discovered; but at low water the French soldiers were very
+likely to come along the sands, and could scarcely fail to see the mouth
+of the cavern.
+
+The tide was now rapidly going down, black rocks appearing one by one
+above the surface.
+
+They accordingly determined to retire to the inner part of the cavern,
+and to wait there till they calculated that the tide would once more
+have come in.
+
+"We must make up our minds to enjoy six hours of daylight, and to endure
+six of darkness," observed Bill.
+
+"I sha'n't care much about that; we can but go to sleep and amuse
+ourselves the best way we can think of while the tide is in," said Jack.
+
+"If we had some hooks and lines we might fish," said Bill.
+
+"We should only catch rock fish, and they are not fit to eat," replied
+Jack.
+
+The boys carried out their plan.  It was an easy matter to get through
+the sleeping-time, but they became somewhat weary from having nothing to
+do during the period that the tide was in.  They could do little more,
+indeed, than sit looking at the sea, and watching the few vessels which
+appeared in the offing.  Now and then they got up and walked about to
+stretch their legs.  They were afraid of bathing, lest while swimming
+about they might be seen from any part of the cliff above.
+
+Whether the soldiers had come to look for them they could not tell; one
+thing was certain, they had not been discovered, and there were no signs
+of any persons having approached the mouth of the cavern.
+
+They husbanded their food, but it was rapidly diminishing.  At night
+they therefore, when the tide had gone out, crept down on the sands, and
+managed to cut off some limpets and other shell-fish with their knives
+from the rocks.  These would have sustained them for some days had they
+been able to cook them, but they had no means of lighting a fire.
+Though limpets may help to keep body and soul together for a short time,
+they are not wholesome food, especially when raw.  Their bread was all
+gone, but as long as they had some figs and cheese they got down the
+limpets very well; but both figs and cheese came to an end, and they
+both felt that they were getting very weak.
+
+"If we don't take care we shall starve," said Bill.
+
+"We must do something or other.  I don't see anything but trying to get
+on board a lugger, as we talked of; but then in searching for her we
+should run the chance of being made prisoners again."
+
+"You must come round to my plan, and run off with a boat of some sort,"
+said Jack.
+
+"That's just what I cannot do," said Bill.
+
+"It's either that or starving," said Jack.
+
+"We should have to get food first, even if we did run off with a boat,"
+observed Bill.  "It would never do to put to sea without something to
+eat.  I'll tell you what I'll do.  I'll try and make my way back to
+Captain Turgot's.  It cannot be far from this.  I'll ask them to give us
+some food.  They are sure to do that, though they might not like hiding
+us; and perhaps they might tell us of some boat in which we could get
+off without the owner being the worse for the loss.  If you'll stay
+here, I'll go this very evening as soon as the tide is out.  I calculate
+that I should have time to get there and back before the flood is up;
+and I'm not afraid of being refused, at all events."  Jack wanted to go
+too; but Bill urged that one was less likely to be discovered than two,
+and that it would be better for him to go alone.  Jack at last agreed to
+this, and directly the sand appeared below the mouth of the cavern, Bill
+set out.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+VISIT TO CAPTAIN TURGOT'S COTTAGE.
+
+As it was growing dusk, Bill had no fear of being seen as he made his
+way from the cavern.  He felt rather weak, but he had a brave heart, and
+pushed on.  He had some rough rocks to climb over, and others he managed
+to get round, walking through the water where it was not too deep.
+Sooner than he expected he reached the bay near which the Turgots'
+cottage was situated.  To avoid the other cottages and huts he had to
+make a wide circuit.
+
+He cautiously crept up towards the back of his friends' dwelling; then,
+keeping close to the wall, he looked in through the window of the room
+in which the family generally sat.
+
+Jeannette was alone, spinning as usual, but looking somewhat pensive.
+
+Bill tapped at the window, and Jeannette looked up.
+
+"May I come in?" he asked in French.
+
+Jeannette came to the window.
+
+"Who are you?" she inquired.
+
+"What! don't you know me?" said Bill.
+
+"Ah! one of the young Englishmen!" she exclaimed; and she opened the
+window.
+
+Bill jumped in.
+
+"I am so happy to see you!" she cried.  "Where have you come from?  And
+your friend Jack, where is he?  Have you both escaped from the soldiers?
+We thought you were in prison long ago;" and Jeannette put so many
+questions that Bill had great difficulty in answering them.  He,
+however, soon contrived to let her know all that had happened, and then
+inquired for her father and mother and brother.
+
+"Mother is in bed, quite ill," she said; "she was so frightened by the
+soldiers, expecting to be carried off to prison, that she has not got
+over it.  My father and Pierre are out fishing.  I expect them home
+before midnight, but they said that they should be out later than
+usual."
+
+"I should like to stop and see them," said Bill; "but in the meantime,
+can you give me something to eat?  I am nearly starved."
+
+"Of course," cried Jeannette; and she quickly placed some food before
+Bill, which he as quickly attacked.
+
+"Well, you are hungry!" she observed, "but eat away.  I wish I had known
+before how near you were to us, and I would have brought you
+provisions."
+
+"Can you bring them to us now?" asked Bill.  "If we do not manage to get
+off, we shall soon be hungry again."
+
+"Of course I will," she answered; "but it would not be safe for me to
+bring them all the way to the cave.  I know, however, a place much
+nearer this where I could hide them, and you can come and fetch them."
+
+"But how am I to know the place?" asked Bill.
+
+"I will describe it to you," answered Jeannette.  "You remarked, as you
+came along, a break in the cliff, with a stream running down the bottom.
+On the right side of the stream, about ten feet from high-water mark,
+there is a small hollow just large enough for one person to creep in.  I
+took shelter there once when I was a little girl, having been caught in
+a storm as I was rambling along the sands so I remember it well."
+
+Bill thought he could find the place, and would look for it as he went
+back.  Jeannette promised to bring a basket every other day, directly
+the morning tide went down, so that Bill would know exactly when to go
+and fetch the food.  He thanked her very much, and promised to follow
+her directions.
+
+He then asked her about a boat, but she could say nothing till her
+father and Pierre returned.  They might know of one, but as there was
+very small chance of her ever being restored to her owner, while the
+boys were not likely to have the means of paying for her, she was
+doubtful.
+
+"As to that," said Bill, "we shall have plenty of prize-money.  I hope
+to pay for her over and over again; and I will promise most faithfully
+to do so."
+
+Jeannette smiled, for she thought that there was very little probability
+of the two young ship-boys ever getting prize-money sufficient to pay
+for such a boat as they required, to make a voyage across the Channel.
+
+Bill was anxious to get back to poor Jack, who he remembered was
+well-nigh starving.  Jeannette would have accompanied him part of the
+way, but she had to remain at home to receive Captain Turgot and Pierre.
+She had, in the meantime, packed a basket with provisions for Jack and
+himself, that they might be independent for a couple of days.  He
+therefore jumped up, and, begging her to remember him very kindly to the
+others, he bade her farewell, and, with the basket on his arm, slipped
+out of the house as cautiously as he had entered.
+
+He had noted every object as he came along, so that he had no difficulty
+in making his way back.  He also easily discovered the small cave
+described by Jeannette.  It was at a convenient distance from the large
+cavern, and, as a path led near it, should Jeannette be perceived, it
+might be supposed that she was making her way to the top of the cliff.
+
+Bill did not stop longer than was necessary to examine the place to be
+certain of being able to find it again, as he knew that Jack would be
+anxiously waiting for him.  He hurried on, therefore, and in a short
+time reached the beach below the cavern.  Climbing up, he called out,
+"All right, Jack!"  But Jack did not answer.  He called again, but still
+there was no reply, and he began to feel very anxious.
+
+Had the soldiers been there and carried off his companion? or had Jack
+died of starvation?
+
+Jeannette had thoughtfully put a tinder-box, flint and steel, and a
+couple of candles into the basket.  After feeling his way on for some
+distance, he stopped and lighted one of the candles.
+
+The faint light gave the cavern a wild, strange appearance, so that he
+could scarcely have known where he was.  He looked round on every side,
+but could nowhere see Jack; he became more and more alarmed; still he
+did not give up all hope of finding him.
+
+Again and again he called out "Jack!"
+
+At length a faint voice came from the interior.  He hurried on.  There
+lay Jack on the ground.
+
+"Is that you, Bill?" he asked, in a low voice.  "I was afraid you were
+caught.  I fancied I heard voices, and crept away, intending to get into
+our hiding-place, when I fell down, and I suppose I must have gone to
+sleep, for I remember nothing more till I heard you calling to me.  Have
+you brought any food?"
+
+"Yes," said Bill; "sit up and eat as much as you can; it will do you
+good, and you will soon be all to rights."
+
+Jack did not require a second invitation, but munched away at the bread
+and cheese, and dried fish and figs, with right good will, showing that
+he could not have been so very ill after all.  He quickly regained his
+strength and spirits, and listened eagerly to what Bill had to tell him.
+
+"Well, it's a comfort to think that we are not likely to be starved," he
+observed; "and I will bless Miss Jeannette as long as I live.  I wish we
+could do something to show her how much obliged we are.  And now, Bill,
+what about the boat?  Is there a chance of our getting one?"
+
+"A very poor chance at present, I am afraid," answered Bill.
+"Jeannette, however, will let us know if her father and brother can find
+one to suit our purpose, or if a smuggling lugger comes into the
+harbour."
+
+"We'll have, after all, to do as I proposed, and take one without asking
+the owner's leave," said Jack.  "I tell you it will be perfectly fair.
+The French are at war with us, and we have a right to take any of their
+property we can find, whether afloat or on shore."
+
+"That may be, but I can't get it out of my head that we shall be robbing
+some poor fellow who may have to depend on his boat for supporting
+himself and his family," answered Bill.
+
+They argued the point as before, till Bill proposed that they should lie
+down and go to sleep, as he felt tired after his long walk.
+
+They allowed two days to pass, when Bill set off as agreed on to obtain
+the provisions he hoped Jeannette would have brought.
+
+She had not deceived him; there was an ample supply, and two or three
+more candles.
+
+Several more days passed by.  Jeannette regularly brought them
+provisions, but she left no note to tell them of any arrangements which
+her father had made.  They were becoming very weary of their life, for
+they had nothing whatever to do--no books to read, and not even a stick
+to whittle.
+
+The weather had hitherto been fine, the cavern was warm and comfortable,
+and the dry sand afforded them soft beds.  They might certainly have
+been very much worse off.
+
+Bill always went to fetch the food from the cave where Jeannette left
+it.  He had hitherto not met her, which he was anxious to do, to learn
+what chance there was of obtaining a boat.  She, however, was always
+before him, the fact being that the path from her house to the cave was
+practicable before that from the large cavern was open.
+
+"I don't quite like the look of the weather," observed Bill one day to
+Jack, just before the time Jeannette was due at the little cave, and all
+their provisions were expended.  "If it comes on very bad she may be
+stopped, and we shall be pressed.  I'll slip down the moment the water
+is shallow enough, and try to get along the shore; and if she has not
+reached the cave, I'll go on and meet her."
+
+Bill at once put his resolution into practice.  He did not mind wetting
+his feet; but he had here and there a hard job to save himself from
+being carried off by the sea, which rolled up the beach to the very foot
+of the cliff.  Twice he had to cling to a rock, and frequently to wade
+for some distance, till he began to regret that he had ventured so soon;
+but having made up his mind to do a thing, he was not to be defeated by
+the fear of danger; so waiting till the wave had receded, he rushed on
+to another rock.  The sky had become overcast.  The leaden seas,
+foam-crested, came rolling in with increasing force, and had not the
+tide been on the ebb his position would have been perilous in the
+extreme.
+
+He knew, however, that every minute would make his progress less
+difficult; so with a brave heart he pushed on.  At last he reached the
+little cave by the side of the gorge.  It was empty!  He knew,
+therefore, that Jeannette had not been there.
+
+According to his previous determination, he went on to meet her, hoping
+that before this she might have set out.
+
+The rain now began to fall, and the wind blew with fitful gusts.  He did
+not care for either himself, but he was sorry that Jeannette should be
+exposed to the storm.  He felt nearly sure that she would come, in spite
+of it.  If not, he made up his mind to wait till dark, and then to go on
+to her cottage.  There was no great risk in doing so, as the soldiers
+would long before this have given up their search for him and Jack.
+
+He had gone some distance, and the fishing village would soon be in
+sight, when he saw a figure coming towards him, wrapped in a cloak.
+Hoping that it was Jeannette, he hurried forward to meet her.  He was
+not mistaken.
+
+Bill told her that he had come on that she might be saved from a longer
+exposure to the rain than was necessary.
+
+"Thank you," she answered.  "I was delayed, or I should have set off
+earlier, but a party of soldiers came to the village pretending that
+they wanted to buy fish.  I, however, suspected that they came to look
+for you, and I waited till they had gone away again.  We sold them all
+the fish they asked for, and put on an unconcerned look, as if
+suspecting nothing, I saw them, however, prying about, and I recognised
+one of them as the sergeant who came in command of the party which
+carried you off.  I am not at all certain, either, that they will not
+return, and I should not have ventured out, had I not known that you
+must be greatly in want of food, and that, perhaps, should the storm
+which is now beginning increase, many days might pass before I could
+supply you."
+
+The information given by Jeannette made Bill very glad that he had come
+on to meet her.  He, of course, thanked her warmly, and then asked what
+chance there was of obtaining a boat.
+
+"My father wishes you well, but is afraid to interfere in the matter,"
+she answered.  "He does not, perhaps, enter into your feelings about
+getting back to England, because he thinks France the best country of
+the two, and sees no reason why you should not become Frenchmen.  As the
+detachment of soldiers quartered in the neighbourhood will soon,
+probably, be removed, you may then come back without fear, and resume
+the clothes you before wore, and live with us, and help my father and
+brother; then who knows what may happen?  You will not have to fight
+your own countrymen, and the war may some day come to an end, or perhaps
+the French may conquer the English, and then we shall all be very good
+friends again."
+
+"Never!  Jeannette; that will never happen," exclaimed Bill.  "You are
+very kind to us, and we are very fond of you, and would do anything to
+serve you, and show our gratitude, but don't say that again."
+
+Jeannette laughed.  "Dear me, how fiery you are!" she exclaimed.
+"However, it's foolish to stop talking here, and I ought to hurry home,
+in case the soldiers should pay us another visit and suspect something.
+Do not be angry, my dear Bill.  I did not wish to offend you; only, you
+know, we each think our own country the best."
+
+Bill assured Jeannette that he was not angry, and again thanked her very
+much, though he could not help saying that he was sorry her father would
+not obtain the boat for them.
+
+"Well, well, you must have patience," she answered.  "Now go back to
+your cave as fast as you can, or you will be wet to the skin."
+
+"I am that already," answered Bill, laughing; "but it's a trifle to
+which I am well accustomed."
+
+Once more they shook hands, and exchanging baskets.  Jeannette, drawing
+her cloak around her, hurried back to the village, while Bill made the
+best of his way to the cavern.
+
+He was now able, in spite of the wind, to get along where he had before
+found it difficult to pass.  In one or two places only did the waves
+rolling up wash round his feet, but the water was not of sufficient
+depth to carry him off, and he gained the mouth of the cavern in safety.
+Jack was eagerly looking out for him, and both of them being very sharp
+set, they lost no time in discussing some of the contents of the basket.
+
+As they looked out they saw that the wind had greatly increased.  A
+heavy north-westerly gale was blowing.  It rushed into the cavern filled
+with spray from off the now distant foam-tipped waves.  What it would do
+when the tide was again high was a matter of serious consideration.
+
+"We shall have to go as far back as we can," observed Bill, "and the
+sooner we pick out a safe berth the better.  I should like, too, to get
+my wet clothes off, for the wind makes me feel very cold."
+
+Jack was of the same opinion, and he taking up the basket, they groped
+their way to the inner cave round the rock, where it turned, as before
+described, to the left.  Here they were completely sheltered from the
+wind, and had it not been for the loud roar of the waves beating on the
+shore, and the howling of the gale in the outer cavern, they would not
+have been aware that a storm was raging outside.
+
+They had, it should have been said, collected a quantity of drift wood,
+which Jack had thoughtfully employed himself in carrying to the spot
+where they were now seated.  As they could not possibly run any risk of
+being detected, they agreed to light a fire, which they had hitherto
+avoided doing.
+
+They soon had a cheerful one blazing up, and it made them feel much more
+comfortable.  Bill was able to dry his wet clothes, and by its light
+they could now take a better survey of their abode than they had
+hitherto done.
+
+The cavern was here not more than eight or ten feet in height, but it
+was nearly thirty broad, and penetrated, so it seemed to them, far away
+into the interior of the cliff.
+
+"I vote we have a look and see where the cave leads to," said Bill,
+taking up a long piece of fir-wood which burnt like a torch.
+
+Jack provided himself with another of a similar character, and, by
+waving them about, they found that they could keep them alight.  They
+also took one of their candles and their match-box in case their torches
+should go out.
+
+Having raked their fire together, so that it might serve as a beacon to
+assist them in their return, they set out.
+
+The ground rose as they had before supposed when they explored it in the
+dark, but the roof continued of the same height above it.
+
+Suddenly Jack started.
+
+"What is that?" he exclaimed, seizing his companion's arm.  "There's a
+man! or is it a ghost?  Oh Bill!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+DISCOVERY OF THE SMUGGLERS' TREASURE.
+
+Bill waved his torch on one side and peered forward.  "It looks like a
+man, but it doesn't move.  It's only a figure, Jack," he answered.  "I'm
+not afraid of it.  Come on! we'll soon see what it is."
+
+Jack was ashamed of lagging behind, and accompanied him.
+
+The object which had frightened Jack was soon discovered to be merely a
+stalactite--a mass of hardened water.  Similar formations now appeared
+on both sides of the cavern, some hanging from the roof, others in the
+form of pillars and arches; indeed, the whole cavern looked like the
+interior of a Gothic building in ruins.
+
+Other figures still more strange were seen, as if starting out from
+recesses or doorways on both sides.
+
+"Well! this is a strange place.  I never saw or heard of anything like
+it," exclaimed Jack, when he found how harmless all the ghosts really
+were.
+
+In many places the roof and sides shone and glittered as if covered with
+precious stones.  Even Bill began to fancy that they had got into some
+enchanted cavern.  The ground was covered in most places with the same
+substance, and so rough that they could make but slow progress.
+
+They were about to turn back for fear of their torches going out when
+they reached a low archway.  Curiosity prompted them to enter, which
+they could do by stooping down.  After going a short distance they found
+themselves in a still larger cavern, almost circular, like a vast hall,
+the roof and sides ornamented by nature in the same curious fashion,
+though still more profusely.
+
+"It won't do to stop here," said Bill, "but we'll come back again and
+have another look at it with fresh torches.  Hallo! what's that?"
+
+Jack started as he had before done, as if he were not altogether
+comfortable in his mind.  He had never heard anything about enchanted
+caverns, but a strange dread had seized him.  He had an idea that the
+place must be the abode of ghosts or spirits of some sort, and that Bill
+had seen one.
+
+Bill hurrying forward, the light of his torch fell on a pile composed of
+bales and chests, and casks, and various other articles.
+
+The place had evidently been used as a store-room by persons who must
+have considered that it was not likely to be discovered.
+
+As their torches were by this time nearly burnt out, they could not
+venture to stop and examine the goods, but had to hurry back as fast as
+they could.  They had managed to get through the narrow passage, and had
+made some progress in their return, when both of them were obliged to
+let their torches drop, as they could no longer hold them without
+burning their hands.  They might have lighted their candles, had they
+been in any difficulty, but their fire enabled them to find their way
+along, though they stumbled frequently over the inequalities of the
+ground, and once or twice Jack clutched Bill's arm, exclaiming, "Sure!
+there's some one!  I saw him move!  Can any of the soldiers have come to
+look for us?"
+
+"Not with such a storm as there is now raging outside," answered Bill.
+"It was only one of the marble figures."
+
+Presently Jack again cried out, "There!  I saw another moving.  I'm sure
+of it this time.  It's a ghost if it isn't a man."
+
+"Well! if it is a ghost it won't hurt us," answered Bill; "but the only
+ghosts hereabouts are those curious figures, which can't move from their
+places.  For my part, I don't believe there are such things as ghosts at
+all going about to frighten people.  The only one I ever heard tell of
+was `The Cock Lane Ghost', and that was found out to be a sham long
+ago."
+
+Jack regained his courage as they approached the fire, and both being
+pretty well tired, they were glad to sit down and talk about the
+wonderful store of goods they had discovered.  Jack was afraid that the
+owners might come back to look for their property and discover them, but
+Bill was of opinion that they had been placed there by a party of
+smugglers, who had gone away and been lost without telling any one where
+they had stowed their goods.
+
+From the appearance of the bales and chests he thought that they had
+been there for some time.  Another visit would enable them to ascertain
+this, and they resolved to make it without delay.
+
+They were becoming very sleepy, for they had been many hours on foot and
+the night was far advanced.  Before lying down, however, Bill said he
+wished to see how the storm was getting on.
+
+It was making a dreadful uproar in the cavern, and he wanted to
+ascertain what chance there was of the waves washing in.  There was not
+much risk, to be sure, of their reaching as far as they then were, but
+it was as well to be on the safe side, and if there was a likelihood of
+it they would move farther up and carry their provisions and store of
+fuel with them, the only property they possessed.
+
+They set out together, Jack keeping a little behind Bill for though he
+was as brave as any lad need be in the daylight, or out at sea, he did
+not somehow, he confessed, feel like himself in that dark cavern, filled
+with the roaring, howling, shrieking noises caused by the gale.
+
+They got on very well till they rounded the rock, when they met a blast,
+driving a sheet of fine spray in their faces, which well-nigh blinded
+them, and forced them back.  They notwithstanding made their way for
+some distance, till Bill began to think that it would be wise to go no
+farther.
+
+Every now and then a bright glare filled the cavern, caused by the
+flashes of lightning darting from the clouds; while, as each sea rolled
+in, the whole mouth was filled as it were by a sheet of foaming water,
+part of which, striking the roof, fell back into the ocean, while a
+portion rushed up the floor, almost to where they were standing.
+
+"It's bad enough now," shouted Jack, for they could only make each other
+hear by speaking at the top of their voices.  "What will it be when it's
+high tide?"
+
+"Perhaps it won't be much worse than it is now," answered Bill.  "We
+shall be safe enough at our hiding-place, and if it gets up much higher
+it will give us notice of its coming, and allow us to retreat in good
+time."
+
+They accordingly got back to their fire, the embers of which enabled
+them to dry their clothes.  They then lay down, and, in spite of the
+storm and the hubbub it was creating, were soon fast asleep.
+
+Had it not been for feeling very hungry, they might have slept on till
+past noon of the next day.  Awaking, they found their fire completely
+gone out.  What o'clock it was they could not tell.  They were in total
+darkness, while the tempest roared away as loudly as ever.
+
+They, however, lighted a candle, and ate some breakfast.  To wash it
+down they had to get water from the spring, which was so much nearer the
+entrance of the cavern.  They accordingly put out their candle, and
+groped their way round the rock.  On seeing light streaming through the
+entrance, they knew that at all events it was no longer night.
+
+The sea was rising over the ledge at the mouth, tossing and tumbling
+with foam-topped billows, and rolling up along the floor of the cavern
+in a seething mass of froth.
+
+They saw how high it had come, and had no reason to fear that it would
+rise farther.
+
+They now made their way to the spring, and drank heartily.
+
+"We ought to be thankful that we are in so snug a place," observed Bill;
+"but I tell you, we must take care not to eat up all our food in a
+hurry, or we may find it a hard matter to get more.  The wind appears to
+have driven the sea over on this shore, and I doubt whether we shall be
+able to make our way along the beach even at low water."
+
+Jack did not at all like the idea of starving, but he saw that it would
+be wise to follow Bill's advice.
+
+They had food enough to last them for three days, as Jeannette had put
+up a double allowance; but the gale might blow much longer than that,
+and then what should they do?
+
+"It's no use troubling ourselves too much about the matter till the time
+comes," observed Bill; "only we must be careful not to eat more than is
+necessary to keep body and soul together."
+
+As they had found a fire very useful and pleasant, they went down as
+close as they could venture to the water, and employed themselves in
+collecting all the driftwood and chips they could find.  They agreed
+that they would do the same every day, so as to have a good stock of
+fuel.  They wanted also to secure some pieces which might serve as
+torches, so that they could examine the smugglers' store as they called
+it, which they had discovered.
+
+They carried their wood and placed it on the soft warm sand, where it
+would dry more rapidly, for in its present state it would not serve to
+kindle a fire.  They had, however, some dry pieces which would answer
+that purpose, and they judged rightly that they might place the damp
+wood on the top of their fire, when it would burn in time.
+
+Most of the day was employed in this manner.  Even after the tide went
+out they found a number of pieces washed up along the sides of the
+cavern.  The seas, however, rolled so far up the beach that they were
+afraid of descending, or they might have obtained much more.
+
+When it grew dark they returned to their camp, lighted the fire, and
+made themselves comfortable.
+
+It was difficult to keep to their resolution of eating only a very
+little food, and Bill had to stop Jack before he thought he had had half
+enough.
+
+"I don't want to stint you," he said, "but recollect you will be crying
+out when our stock comes to an end, and wishing you had not eaten it."
+
+As they had had so long a sleep, neither of them was inclined to turn
+in; and Bill proposed that they should examine the smugglers' store.
+
+They had several pieces of wood which they thought would burn as the
+first had done, and each taking three, with a candle to be used in case
+of emergency, they set out.
+
+They found their way easily enough; but Jack, as before, did not feel
+quite comfortable as he saw the strange figures, which seemed to be
+flitting about the sides of the cavern; sometimes, too, he fancied that
+he detected faces grinning down upon him from the roof, and more than
+once he declared positively that he had caught sight of a figure robed
+in white stealing along in front of them.
+
+Bill each time answered with a laugh.
+
+"Never mind.  We shall catch it up if it's a ghost, and we'll make it
+carry a torch and go ahead to light us."
+
+As they moved on more rapidly than before, they were able to reach the
+inner cavern before either of their torches was much more than half
+burned through.  They thought it wiser to keep both alight at a time, in
+case one should accidentally go out, and they should be unable to light
+it again with a match.
+
+With feelings of intense curiosity they approached the smugglers' store.
+Both agreed, as they examined it, that the goods must have been there
+for some time; but the place being very dry (probably it was chosen on
+that account), they did not appear to be much damaged.  The goods, as
+far as they could judge, were English.
+
+There were many bales of linen and cloth.  One of the cases which they
+forced open contained cutlery, and another was full of pistols; and from
+the weight of several which they did not attempt to open, they judged
+that they also contained firearms.
+
+There were two small chests placed on the top of the others.  They were
+strongly secured; but by means of a sharp stone, which served as a
+chisel, and another as a hammer, they managed to break one of them open.
+What was their surprise to find the case full of gold pieces!  They had
+little doubt that the other also contained money.  They, neither of
+them, had ever seen so much gold before.
+
+"What shall we do with it?" cried Jack.  "There's enough here to let
+mother live like a lady till the end of her days, without going to sell
+fish at the market."
+
+"It is not ours, it belongs to somebody," said Bill.
+
+"That somebody will never come to claim it," answered Jack.  "Depend on
+it, he's gone to the bottom, or ended his days somehow long ago, or he
+would have come back before this.  These goods have been here for
+months, or years maybe, by the look of the packages; and depend on it
+the owners would not have let them stay where they are, if they could
+have come back to fetch them away."
+
+"But gold pieces won't help us to buy food while we are shut up in the
+cavern.  A few Dutch cheeses, with a cask of biscuits, would have been
+of more value," observed Bill.
+
+"You are right," said Jack.  "Still, I vote that we fill our pockets, so
+that if we have to hurry away, and have no time to came back here, we
+may carry some of the gold with us."
+
+Bill could not make up his mind to do this.  The gold was not theirs, of
+that he felt sure, and Jack could not persuade him to overcome the
+principle he had always stuck to, of not taking, under any
+circumstances, what was not lawfully his own.  If the owners were dead,
+it belonged to their heirs.
+
+Jack did not see this so clearly.  The money had been lost, and they had
+found it, and having found it, they had a right to it.
+
+They must not, however, lose time by arguing the point.  Jack put a
+handful or two of the money into his pocket.
+
+Bill kept his fingers out of the box; he did not want the money, and he
+had no right to it.
+
+There were several other articles they had not examined, among which
+were some small casks.  Jack, finding that his torch was almost burning
+his fingers, was obliged to let it drop.  Before he lighted another,
+however, Bill's torch affording sufficient light for the purpose, he
+managed to knock in the head of one of the small casks, which he found
+filled with little black grains.  He tasted them.
+
+"Keep away, Bill--keep away!" he shouted, in an agitated tone, "This is
+gunpowder!"
+
+Had Jack held his torch a few seconds longer in his hand, he and Bill
+would have been blown to atoms--the very cavern itself would have been
+shattered, to the great astonishment of the neighbouring population, who
+would, however, never have discovered the cause of the explosion,
+although Jeannette Turgot might have guessed at it.
+
+"It's a mercy we didn't blow ourselves up," said Jack.  "I was just
+going to take my torch to look at these casks."
+
+He hunted about for all of the same description, and rolled them into a
+place by themselves.
+
+"We must take care what we are about if we come here again with
+torches," he said.
+
+Bill agreed with him.
+
+After all, of what use to them was the treasure they had discovered.
+The cloth and linen were much more serviceable, as they could make
+bedding of them.
+
+"I don't see why we should not try to make jackets and trousers for
+ourselves," observed Bill.  "This cloth will be fine stuff for the
+purpose, and as the cold weather is coming on we shall be glad of some
+warm clothing."
+
+"But how are we going to make them?" asked Jack.
+
+"The linen will serve us for thread, and I must see about making some
+needles of wood if we can't get anything better," answered Bill.
+"However, we'll think about that by-and-by; it's time to return to our
+camp, we may be left in the dark."
+
+They accordingly loaded themselves with as much of the linen and cloth
+as they could carry, cutting off pieces with their knives.  They could
+return, they agreed, for more if this was not enough.
+
+Bill was not quite consistent in taking the cloth when he would not
+touch the money, but it did not occur to him for a moment that he was
+wrong in appropriating it, or he would have refused to do so.  Had he
+argued the point, he would have found it very difficult to settle.  One
+thing was certain, that the owners were never likely to make any
+complaint on the subject.
+
+They got back to their fire without much difficulty, and having raked it
+together, and put on fresh wood, they made their beds with the cloth
+they had brought, said their prayers in a thankful spirit, and slept far
+more comfortably than they had done since they had taken possession of
+the cavern.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+THE WRECK.
+
+By the roaring sound they heard when they awoke, the lads knew that the
+storm was still raging.
+
+They ate sparingly of their store of food for breakfast; and then
+calculating that it must be once more daylight, they made their way
+towards the mouth of the cavern.  They were not mistaken as to its being
+day, but how long the sun had risen they could not tell, as the sky was
+still thickly overcast with clouds.
+
+The sea was washing, as before, heavily into the cavern, throwing up all
+sorts of articles, among which were a number of oranges, melons, and
+other fruits of a southern clime.
+
+The melons were mostly broken, but they got hold of two unbroken, and
+very welcome they were.  The oranges were mostly green, though a few had
+turned sufficiently red to be eaten.
+
+"I would rather have had more substantial food," observed Jack; "but I
+am glad enough to get these."
+
+"What's that?" asked Bill, pointing to the opposite side of the cavern,
+where a creature was seen struggling in a hollow half filled with water.
+
+Jack dashed across at the risk of being carried off by the receding sea;
+and, grasping a large fish, held it up as he rushed away to escape from
+the following wave, which came rolling in with a loud roar.
+
+"Here's a prize worth having," he shouted.  "Hurrah! we may spend
+another week here without fear of starving."
+
+He carried his prize well out of the reach of the water, and a knock on
+the head put an end to its struggles.
+
+The lads piled up their various waifs, contemplating them with infinite
+satisfaction; but it was evident that what was their gain was somebody
+else's loss.
+
+"Some unfortunate ship has gone on shore, or else has thrown her cargo
+overboard," observed Bill.
+
+He went first to one side of the cavern, and then to the other, so as to
+obtain as wide a prospect as possible.
+
+"See! there's a vessel trying to beat off shore," he exclaimed; and just
+then a brig with her foretopmast gone came into view, the sail which she
+was still able to carry heeling her over till her yard-arms seemed
+almost to touch the foaming summits of the seas.
+
+"She'll not do it, I fear," said Jack, after they had been watching her
+for some time.  "It's a wonder she doesn't go right over.  If the wind
+doesn't fall, nothing can save her; and even then, unless she brings up
+and her anchors hold, she's sure to be cast on shore."
+
+They watched the vessel for some time.  Though carrying every stitch of
+canvas she could set, she appeared to be making little headway, and to
+be drifting bodily to leeward.
+
+The lads uttered a cry of regret, for down came her mainmast, and
+immediately her head turned towards the shore.
+
+In a few minutes she struck, though no rock was visible, and the sea
+swept over her deck, carrying her remaining mast, boats, caboose, and
+round-house overboard, with every person who could be seen.  In an
+instant, several human forms were discernible struggling in the seething
+waters alongside, but they quickly disappeared.
+
+"They are all gone," cried Jack; "not one that I can see has escaped."
+
+"Perhaps some were below," observed Bill.  "If they were, it won't much
+matter, for in a few minutes she will go to pieces."
+
+He was mistaken as to the latter point, for another sea rolling in,
+lifted the vessel, and driving over the ledge on which she had first
+struck, carried her between some dark rocks, till she stuck fast on the
+sandy shore.  Had the people been able to cling to her till now, some
+might possibly have been saved, but they had apparently all been on deck
+when the vessel struck, and been swept away by the first sea which
+rolled over her.  The seas still continued to sweep along her deck, but
+their force was partly broken by the rocks, and being evidently a stout
+vessel, she hung together.
+
+It was at the time nearly high-water, and the lads longed for the tide
+to go down, that they might examine her nearer.
+
+"Even if anybody is alive on board, we cannot help them," observed Jack;
+"so I vote that we take our fish to the camp, and have some dinner.  I
+am very sharp set, seeing that we had no breakfast to speak of."
+
+Bill, who had no objection to offer, agreed to this; so carrying up
+their newly-obtained provisions, they soon had a fire lighted, and some
+of the fish broiling away before it.
+
+The fate of the unfortunate vessel formed the subject of their
+conversation.
+
+"I have an idea," cried Bill.  "It's an ill wind that brings no one good
+luck.  If we can manage to get on board that craft which has come on
+shore, we might build a boat out of her planking, or at all events a
+raft; and should the wind come from the southward, we might manage to
+get across the Channel, or be picked up by some vessel or other.  We are
+pretty sure to find provisions on board.  Perhaps one of her boats may
+have escaped being knocked to pieces, and we could repair her.  At all
+events, it will be our own fault if that wreck doesn't give us the
+opportunity of escaping."
+
+Jack listened to all Bill was saying.
+
+"I cannot agree with you as to the chance of getting off," he observed.
+"As soon as the wreck is seen, the Frenchmen are sure to be down on the
+shore, and we shall be caught and carried back to prison instead of
+getting away.  The boats are pretty certain to have been knocked into
+shreds before this, and as to building a boat, that is what neither you
+nor I can do, even if we had the tools, and where are they to come
+from?"
+
+"Perhaps we shall find them on board," said Bill.  "The vessel has held
+together till now, and I don't see why she should not hold together till
+the storm is over.  `Where there's a will there's a way,' and I don't
+see that we have so bad a chance of getting off."
+
+"Well, I'll help you.  You can show me what we had best do," said Jack.
+"I am not going to draw back on account of the risk.  All must depend on
+the weather.  If the wind comes off shore, and the sea goes down, I
+should say that our best chance would be to build a raft.  We can do
+that, if we can only find an axe and a saw, and we might get launched
+before the Frenchmen find out the wreck.  The first thing we have to do
+is to get on board, and when we are there, we must keep a bright
+look-out to see that none of the natives are coming along the shore to
+trap us."
+
+The lads, having come to this resolution, hurried back to the entrance
+of the cave.
+
+They forgot all about the smugglers' stores, and their intention of
+making clothes for themselves; indeed, they only thought of getting on
+board the vessel.  They watched eagerly for the tide to go down.  The
+day passed by and the night came on, but the clouds clearing away, a
+bright moon shed her light over the scene.  The wind had also sensibly
+decreased, and the waves rolled in with far less fury than before.
+
+The water, however, seemed to them a long time moving off; still it was
+evidently going down.  Rock after rock appeared, and looking over the
+ledge they could see the sand below them.
+
+Knowing full well that the water would not again reach the beach it had
+once left till the return of the tide, they leaped down without
+hesitation, and began to make their way in the direction of the vessel.
+They had again to wait, however, for, as they pushed eagerly forward, a
+sheet of foam from a wave which came rolling up nearly took them off
+their legs.
+
+They retreated a short distance, and in a few minutes were able to pass
+the spot over the uncovered sand.  On and on they pressed, now
+advancing, now having to retreat, till they stood abreast of the vessel.
+The water still surrounded her, and was too deep to wade through.
+
+They looked round on every side, but not a trace of a boat could be
+discovered, though fragments of spars and the bulwarks of the vessel
+strewed the beach.  Among the spars they found two whole ones, which
+they secured.
+
+"These will help us to get on board if we find no ropes hanging over the
+side," observed Bill; "or they will enable us to withstand the sea
+should it catch us before we can climb up."  They now advanced more
+boldly.
+
+The vessel lay over on her bilge, with her deck partly turned towards
+the shore, the sea, after she struck, having driven her round.
+
+They waded up to her, for their impatience did not permit them to wait
+till the water had entirely receded.  The risk they ran of being carried
+off was considerable, but, dashing forward, they planted the spars
+against the side.
+
+Bill swarmed up first, Jack followed, and the deck was gained.
+
+Scarcely were Jack's feet out of the water, when a huge sea came rolling
+up, which would inevitably have carried him off.
+
+They knew that they had no time to lose, for the wreck once seen from
+the shore, crowds of people were certain to visit it to carry off the
+cargo.
+
+The after-part of the vessel was stove in, and nothing remained in the
+cabin; but the centre part, though nearly full of water, was unbroken.
+The water, however, was rushing out like a mill-stream, both at the
+stern and through some huge holes in the bows.  Nothing whatever
+remained on deck.
+
+The lads plunged down below, and gained the spar-deck, which was already
+out of the water.  Here the first object their eyes alighted on was a
+chest.
+
+It was the carpenter's, and contained axes, and saws, and nails, and
+tools of all sorts.
+
+There were a good many light spars and planks stowed on one side.
+
+"Here we have materials for a raft at hand!" cried Bill.  "We must build
+one; for I agree with you, Jack, that there's no use in attempting a
+boat.  It would take too much time, even if we could succeed in making
+her watertight."
+
+"I said so," replied Jack.  "I wish we had some grub, though; perhaps
+there's some for'ard.  I'll go and find it if I can."
+
+Jack made his way into the forepeak, while Bill was cutting free the
+lashings, and dragging out the spars.  Jack returned in a short time
+with some cold meat, and biscuit, and cheese.
+
+"See! we can dine like lords," he exclaimed; "and we shall be better
+able to work after it."
+
+They sat down on the chest, and ate the provisions with good appetites.
+
+Bill cast a thought on the fate of the poor fellows to whom the food had
+belonged; their bodies now washing about in the breakers outside.
+
+Every now and then they alternately jumped up, and looked east and west,
+and to the top of the cliff, to ascertain if any one was coming.  The
+vessel had been driven on shore out of sight of both the villages, or
+they would not have been left long alone.  It was to be hoped that no
+one would come along the cliff and look down upon the wreck.
+
+Their meal over, they set to work to plan their raft.
+
+They were obliged to labour on deck, as they could not hoist it up
+through the hold, or they would have preferred keeping out of sight.  It
+would be a hard job to launch it, but that they hoped to do by fastening
+tackles at either side leading to the ring bolts on deck.
+
+As there were no bulwarks to stop them, they laid the foundation, or, as
+they called it, the keel, projecting slightly over the side.  They would
+thus have only to shove it forward and tip it up to launch it.
+
+Their plan was to form an oblong square, then to put on bows at one end;
+and two pieces crossing each other with a short upright between them, on
+which to support the steering oar.  The interior of the framework they
+strengthened by two diagonal braces.  They lashed and nailed a number of
+crosspieces close together, and on the top of the whole they nailed down
+all the planks they could find, which were sufficient to form a good
+flooring to their raft.
+
+They discovered also a number of small brandy casks, which they
+immediately emptied of their contents, letting the spirits flow without
+compunction into the water, and then again tightly bunged them down.
+
+They fastened ropes around the casks, with which, when the raft was
+launched, they could secure them to either side, to give it greater
+buoyancy.  They also brought up a couple of sea-chests, which they
+intended to lash down to the centre, so as to afford them some
+protection from the sea, and at the same time to hold their provisions.
+
+Bill was the chief suggester of all these arrangements, though Jack ably
+carried them out.
+
+They worked like heroes, with all the energy they could command, for
+they felt that everything depended on their exertions.
+
+The night being bright, they were able to get on as well then as in the
+daytime.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+A RAFT BUILT--MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF JACK PEEK.
+
+Not till their raft was complete did the two boys think of again eating.
+They had been working, it must be remembered, for several hours since
+the meal they took soon after they got on board.  Having finished the
+beef and cheese, they lighted a couple of lanterns which they found hung
+up in the forepeak, and hunted about for more food.
+
+They discovered some casks of salt beef, and another of biscuits, a drum
+of cheese, and several boxes of dried fruit.  They had thus no lack of
+provisions, but they did not forget the necessity of supplying
+themselves with a store of water.
+
+Hunting about, they found two small vessels, which they filled from one
+of the water-casks.
+
+There were several oars below, three of which they took and placed in
+readiness on deck--one to steer with, and the other two for rowing.
+
+They had, lastly, to rig their raft.  A fore-royal already bent was
+found in the sail-room, and a spar served as a mast.  How to step it,
+and to secure it properly, was the difficulty, until Bill suggested
+getting a third chest and boring a hole through the lid, and then, by
+making another hole through the bottom, the mast would be well stepped,
+and it was easy to set it up by means of a rope led forward and two
+shrouds aft.
+
+Knowing exactly what they wanted to do, they did it very rapidly, and
+were perfectly satisfied with their performance.
+
+The tide must come up again, however, before they could launch their
+raft.  It would not be safe to do that unless the wind was off shore and
+the water smooth.  Of this they were thoroughly convinced.  Some hours
+must also elapse before the hitherto tumultuous sea would go down; what
+should they do in the meantime?
+
+Bill felt very unwilling to go away without wishing their friends the
+Turgots good-bye.  He wanted also to tell Jeannette of the smugglers'
+store.  The Turgots, at all events, would have as good a right to it as
+any one else, should the proper owners not be in existence.
+
+Jack did not want him to go.
+
+"You may be caught," he observed, "or some one may come down and
+discover the vessel, and if I am alone, even should the tide be high, I
+could not put off."
+
+"But there is no chance of the tide coming up for the next three hours,
+and I can go to the village and be back again long before that,"
+answered Bill.
+
+At last Jack gave in.
+
+"Well, be quick about it," he said; "we ought to be away at daylight, if
+the wind and the sea will let us; and if we don't, I'm afraid there will
+be very little chance of our getting off at all."
+
+Bill promised without fail to return.  There was no risk, he was sure,
+of being discovered, and it would be very ungrateful to the Turgots to
+go away without trying to see them again.  He wished that Jack could
+have gone also, but he agreed that it was better for him to remain to do
+a few more things to the raft.  Before he started they arranged the
+tackles for launching it; and they believed that, when once in the
+water, it would not take them more than ten minutes or a quarter of an
+hour to haul the empty casks under the bottom and to step and set up the
+mast.  They might then, should the wind be favourable, stand boldly out
+to sea.
+
+This being settled, Bill lowered himself down on the sand by a rope, and
+ran off as fast as he could go.
+
+Jack quickly finished the work he had undertaken; then putting his hand
+into his pocket, he felt the gold pieces.
+
+"It's a pity we shouldn't have more of these," he said to himself.  "I
+don't agree with Bill in that matter.  If he does not care about them
+for himself, I do for him, and he shall have half."
+
+As he said this he emptied his pockets into one of the chests.
+
+"I shall want a lantern by-the-bye," he said; and springing below, he
+secured one with a fresh candle in it.
+
+Having done this, he forthwith lowered himself, as Bill had done, down
+on the sand, and quickly made his way to the cavern.
+
+He had left the basket with the tinder-box, and the remnant of their
+provisions at their camp, which he soon reached.
+
+His desire to obtain the gold overcame the fears he had before
+entertained of ghosts and spirits.
+
+Having lighted his lantern he took up the basket, which had a cloth in
+it, and pushed forward.  The pale light from his lantern, so different
+from that of a couple of blazing torches, made the objects around look
+strange and weird.  He began not at all to like the appearance of
+things, and fancied at last that he must have got into a different part,
+of the cavern; still he thought, "I must have the gold.  It would be so
+foolish to go away without it.  It belongs to us as much as to anybody
+else, seeing that the owners are dead.  Their ghosts won't come to look
+for it, I hope.  I wish I hadn't thought of that.  I must be going
+right.  It would have been much pleasanter if Bill had been with me.
+Why didn't I try to persuade him to stop?"
+
+Such were the thoughts which passed through Jack's mind; but he was a
+bold fellow, and did not like giving up what he had once determined on.
+
+He saw no harm in what he was doing; on the contrary, he was serving his
+friend Bill as well as himself, or rather his mother, for he wanted the
+gold for her.  In the meantime, Bill was hurrying on towards the
+Turgots' cottage.  He should astonish them, he knew, by waking them up
+in the middle of the night, or rather so early in the morning; but they
+would appreciate his desire to wish them good-bye, and would be very
+much obliged to him for telling them of the treasure in the cavern.
+
+It would make their fortunes, and Jeannette would be the richest heiress
+in the neighbourhood; for, of course, he would bargain that she should
+have a good share.  There might be some difficulty in getting the goods
+away without being discovered, which would be a pity, as they were of as
+much value as the boxes of gold.  However, he was doing what was right
+in giving them the opportunity of possessing themselves of the treasure,
+though he considered that he could not take it himself.
+
+He got round to the back door, under the room where Pierre slept.  He
+knew that he would not be out fishing then, as the weather would have
+prevented him.
+
+He knocked at once.  No answer came.  The third time, and he heard some
+one moving, and presently Pierre sang out, "Who's there?"
+
+"It's one you know; let me in," answered Bill, in a low voice, for he
+was afraid of any one who might by chance be in the neighbourhood
+hearing him.
+
+Pierre came downstairs and opened the door.  Bill explained all that had
+happened, except about the treasure.
+
+"You going away!" cried Pierre.  "It would be madness!  You will only
+float about till another storm arises and you will be lost."
+
+"You don't know what we can do," answered Bill.  "We shall probably be
+picked up by one of our ships before we reach England; and, if not, we
+shall get on very well, provided the wind holds from the southward, and
+after the long course of northerly gales there's every chance of its
+doing that."
+
+"I must consult my father before I let you go," said Pierre.
+
+"You would not keep us prisoners against our will," said Bill, laughing,
+as if Pierre could only be in joke.  "Come, call your mother and father
+and Jeannette, and let me wish them good-bye.  I haven't many minutes to
+stop, and I've got something to tell them, which I've a notion will be
+satisfactory."
+
+Pierre went to his father and mother's and Jeannette's rooms, and soon
+roused them up.  They appeared somewhat in _deshabille_, and looked very
+astonished at being called out of their beds by the young Englishman.
+
+"What is it all about?" asked Captain Turgot.
+
+"We are going away," replied Bill, "but we could not go without again
+thanking you for all your kindness; and to show you that we are not
+ungrateful, I have to tell you how you can become a rich man in a few
+hours, without much trouble."
+
+On this Bill described how they had found the smuggler's treasure.
+
+Captain Turgot and the dame held up their hands, uttering various
+exclamations which showed their surprise, mixed with no little doubt as
+to whether Bill had not been dreaming.
+
+He assured them that he was stating a fact, and offered, if Captain
+Turgot and Pierre would accompany him, to show them the place, as he
+thought that there would be time before daylight, when he and Jack had
+determined to set sail.
+
+"I am sure he's speaking the truth," cried Jeannette; "and it's very
+kind and generous of you, Bill, to tell us of the treasure, when you
+might have carried it off yourself.  I know of the cave, for I saw it
+once, when I was very nearly caught by the tide and drowned, though I
+don't think many people about here are acquainted with it; and very few,
+if any, have gone into the interior."
+
+Captain Turgot and Pierre confessed that they had never seen it, though
+they had gone up and down the coast so often; but then, on account of
+the rocks, they had always kept a good distance out.
+
+At last Bill and Jeannette persuaded them that there really was such a
+cave; but on considering the hour, they came to the conclusion that the
+tide would come in before they could make their escape from it, and they
+would prefer going when the tide had again made out.  Bill, they
+thought, would only just have time to get on board the vessel, if he was
+determined to go.
+
+"But if you have so much gold, you could purchase a good boat," said
+Captain Turgot; "and that would be much better than making your voyage
+on a raft."
+
+Bill acknowledged that such might be the case, but he was unwilling to
+risk any further delay.  He trusted to his friends' honour to let him go
+as he had determined.  He had come of his own accord to bid them
+farewell, and they would not really think of detaining him against his
+will.
+
+The fact, however, was that Captain Turgot doubted very much the truth
+of Bill's story.  Had any band of smugglers possessed a hiding-place on
+that part of the coast, he thought that he should have known it, and he
+fancied that the young Englishman must in some way or other have been
+deceived.
+
+"Where is the gold you speak of?" he asked.  "You surely must have
+secured some for yourself."
+
+Bill replied that Jack had, but that he had not wished to touch it.
+
+"Then you give it to us, my young friend," said Captain Turgot; "where
+is the difference?"
+
+"No!  I only tell you of it, that you may act as you think right.  If
+you find out the owners, I hope you will restore it to them; but, at all
+events, it's Frenchmen's money, and a Frenchman has more right to it
+than I have."
+
+Captain Turgot did not quite understand Bill's principles, though
+perhaps Jeannette and Pierre did.
+
+"Well, well, my young friend, if go you must, I will not detain you.
+You and your companion will run a great risk of losing your lives, and I
+wish you would remain with us.  To-morrow, as soon as the tide is out,
+Pierre and I will visit the cavern, which, I think, from your
+description, we can find; and we will take lanterns and torches.  Again
+I say I wish you would wait, and if there is a prize to be obtained,
+that you would share it with us."
+
+Jeannette and Pierre also pressed Bill to remain, but he was firm in his
+resolution of rejoining Jack, and setting off at once.
+
+He was so proud of the raft they had made, that he would have been ready
+to go round the world on it, if it could be got to sail on a wind, and
+at all events he had not the slightest doubt about its fitness to carry
+him and Jack across the Channel.
+
+Bill had already delayed longer than he intended, and once more bidding
+his friends good-bye, he set off for the wreck.  He hurried along as
+fast as he could go, for he felt sure that at daybreak it would be seen,
+if not from the shore, from the sea, and that people would come and
+interfere with his and Jack's proceedings.
+
+As he knew the way thoroughly, he made good progress.  On getting
+abreast of the wreck, he looked out for Jack, but could nowhere see him.
+
+The water was already coming round the vessel, and in a short time would
+be too deep to wade through.  He thought that Jack must have gone below,
+but he was afraid of giving a loud shout, lest his voice might be heard.
+He accordingly, without stopping, made his way on board.
+
+Great was his alarm when he could nowhere discover Jack.
+
+Could he have gone to the cavern? or could he have been carried off?
+
+The latter was not probable, for had the stranded vessel been
+discovered, people would have remained in her.
+
+"He must have gone to the cavern, and to save time, I must follow him,"
+he said to himself; and sliding down the rope, he made his way as fast
+as he could towards its mouth.
+
+He quickly climbed up, and hurried on as fast as he dare move in the
+dark, holding out his hands to avoid running against the sides, or to
+save himself should he fall.
+
+He knew that there were no pitfalls or other serious dangers, or he
+could not have ventured to move even so fast as he did.
+
+He shouted out as he went Jack's name.
+
+"How foolish I was not to bring a lantern with me," he said.  "Jack is
+sure to have taken one if he went to get more gold, and that I suspect
+is what he has been after; if he has a light, I shall see it, but I
+don't."
+
+"Jack!  Jack!" he again shouted out; but the cavern only echoed with his
+voice.
+
+Bill was a fine-tempered fellow, but he felt very much inclined to be
+angry with Jack.  All their plans might be upset by his having left the
+wreck.  Even should he soon find him, they would have to swim on board,
+and set off in their wet clothes; but that was of little consequence
+compared with the delay.
+
+At last his hands touched the rock near their camping-place, and he
+thence groped his way on; for having so often traversed the cavern in
+the dark, he found it as easily as a blind man would have done.
+
+He soon felt his feet treading on the ashes of their former fires, and
+feeling about, he discovered the things which Jack had thrown out of the
+basket.
+
+Among them was a candle and the tinder-box.  Jack having a lighted
+lantern, had not troubled himself to bring it.
+
+The basket was gone!  This convinced him that Jack had been there.  He
+quickly lighted the candle, and as there was not a breath of air, he was
+able to walk along with it in his hand.
+
+The stalactite formations, which appeared on both sides, looked as weird
+and strange to him as they had to Jack, but he, knowing perfectly well
+what they were, did not trouble himself about their appearance.
+
+He went on, keeping his gaze ahead, in the hopes of meeting Jack.  He
+was sorry that he had not made more determined attempts to persuade
+Captain Turgot and Pierre to accompany him; for if anything should have
+happened to his companion, they would have assisted him.  But what could
+have happened? that was the question.  Sometimes he thought that Jack
+might, after all, not have come to the cavern; but, then, who could have
+carried away the basket?
+
+Brave as he was, the strange shadows which occasionally seemed to flit
+by made him feel that he would much rather not have been there all
+alone.
+
+Suppose, too, the smugglers should have returned, and, perhaps, caught
+Jack; they would seize him also, and it would be impossible to persuade
+them that he had not come to rob their store.  Still, his chief anxiety
+was for Jack.
+
+He thought much less about himself, or the dangers he might have to
+encounter.
+
+Bill was a hero, though he did not know it, notwithstanding that he had
+been originally only a London street boy.
+
+"I must find Jack, whatever comes of it," he said to himself, as he
+pushed on.
+
+At last he reached the low entrance of the smugglers' store-room, as
+Jack and he had called it.  He crept on carefully, and as he gained the
+inner end of the passage, he saw a light burning close to where the
+goods were piled up, but no voices reached his ear.
+
+If the smugglers were there, they would surely be talking.  He rose to
+his feet, holding out the candle before him.  Seeing no one, he advanced
+boldly across the cavern.  There lay a figure stretched upon the ground!
+
+It was Jack!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+THE RAFT LAUNCHED AND VOYAGE COMMENCED.
+
+Could Jack be dead?  What could have happened to him?  Bill, hurrying
+forward, knelt down by his side, and lifted up his head.  He still
+breathed.
+
+"That's a comfort," thought Bill.  "How shall I bring him to?  There's
+not a drop of water here, and I can't carry him as far as the spring."
+
+Bill rubbed his friend's temples, while he supported his head on his
+knee.
+
+"Jack!  Jack! rouse up, old fellow!  What's come over you?"
+
+Bill held the candle up to Jack's eyes.  Greatly to his joy they opened,
+and he said, "Where am I?  Is that you, Bill!  Is it gone?"
+
+"I am Bill, and you are in the cavern; but there is nothing to go that I
+know of.  It's all right.  Stand up, old fellow, and come along,"
+replied Bill, cheeringly.
+
+"Oh, Bill," said Jack, drawing a deep sigh, "I saw something."
+
+"Did you?" said Bill; "the something did not knock you down, though."
+
+"No; but I thought it would," responded Jack.
+
+"That comes of wanting to take what isn't your own," said Bill.
+"However, don't let's talk about that.  If we are to get off with this
+tide, we must hurry on board as fast as we can.  Don't mind the gold; I
+suppose that's what you came for.  Our friends the Turgots will get it,
+I hope; and they have more right to it than we have."
+
+Bill's voice greatly re-assured Jack, who, fancying that he saw one of
+the ghosts he was afraid of, had fallen down in a sort of swoon.  How
+long it would have lasted if Bill had not come to him it is impossible
+to say; perhaps long enough to have allowed his candle to be
+extinguished.  Had this happened, he would never have been able to find
+his way out of the cavern.  He, however, with Bill by his side, soon
+felt like himself again.
+
+"Let me just fill my pockets with these gold pieces," he exclaimed.  "I
+have taken so much trouble that I shouldn't like to go away without
+them."
+
+"Perhaps the ghost will come back if you do," Bill could not help
+saying.  "Let them alone.  You have got enough already, and we must not
+stop another moment here."
+
+Saying this, he dragged Jack on by the arm.
+
+"Come, if we don't make haste, our candles will go out, and we shall not
+be able to see our way," Bill continued.
+
+Jack moved on.  He was always ready to be led by Bill, and began to
+think that he had better not have come for the gold.
+
+Bill did not scold him, vexed as he felt at the delay which had
+occurred.  They might still be in time to get on board the wreck and to
+launch their raft, but it would be broad daylight before they could get
+to any distance from the shore, and they would then be sure to be seen.
+Bill only hoped that no one would think it worth while to follow them.
+
+Having two lights, they were able to see their way pretty well, though
+they could not run fast for fear of extinguishing them.
+
+Every now and then Jack showed an inclination to stop.  "I wish I had
+got the gold," he muttered.
+
+Bill pulled him on.
+
+"The gold, I say, would not do us any good.  I don't want it for myself,
+and you have got enough to make your mother independent for the rest of
+her days."
+
+On they went again.  Bill was thankful, on reaching the mouth of the
+cavern, to find that it was still night.  It seemed to him a long time
+since he had quitted the wreck.  He did not remember how fast he had
+gone.  They jumped down on the beach, and began to wade towards the
+wreck, but had to swim some distance.
+
+"If we had had our pockets full of gold we could not have done this,"
+observed Bill.  "We should have had to empty them or be drowned.  We are
+much better without it."
+
+They soon reached the side of the vessel, and climbed up on deck.  There
+was plenty of water alongside to launch the raft, and to get the casks
+under it.  The wind, too, if there were any, was off shore, but here it
+was a perfect calm.  They had one advantage through having waited so
+long; they were beyond the influence of the wave which breaks even on a
+weather shore, especially after a gale, although the wind may have
+changed.
+
+The tackles having been arranged, they lost no time in launching their
+raft, which they did very successfully, easing it with handspikes; and
+in a couple of minutes it floated, to their great satisfaction, safely
+alongside.  Their first care was to lash the casks under the bottom.
+This took some time, but they were well repaid by finding the raft float
+buoyantly on the very surface of the water.
+
+The cargo had, however, to be got on board, consisting of the three
+chests, which, of course, would bring it down somewhat.  They lowered
+one after the other, and lashed them in the positions they had intended.
+The foremost chest was secured over all by ropes, as that had not to be
+opened, and was to serve only as a step for their mast; the other two
+chests were secured by their handles both fore and aft and athwartships,
+the lashings contributing to bind the raft still more securely together.
+
+Daylight had now broken, and they were in a hurry to get on with their
+work, but this did not prevent them from securing everything
+effectually.
+
+They next had to get their stores into the chests; and lastly they
+stepped and set up the mast, securing the sail ready for hoisting to the
+halyards, which had been previously rove.
+
+They surveyed their work when completed with no little satisfaction, and
+considered, not without reason, that they might, in moderate weather,
+run across Channel, provided the wind should remain anywhere in the
+southward.
+
+They well knew that they must run the risk of a northerly wind or a
+gale.  In the first case, though they need not go back, they could make
+little or no progress; but then there was always the hope of being
+picked up by an English craft, either a man-of-war or a merchant vessel.
+
+They might, to be sure, be fallen in with by a Frenchman, but in the
+event of that happening, they intended to beg hard for their liberty.
+
+Should a gale arise, as Jack observed, they would look blue, but they
+hoped that their raft would even weather that out.  That it would come
+to pieces they had no fear; and they believed that they could cling on
+to it till the sea should again go down.
+
+They had put on board a sufficient supply of spare rope to lash
+themselves to the chests.
+
+Jack climbed up for the last time on deck, and handed down the three
+sweeps, taking a look round to see that nothing was left behind.
+
+"All right," he said; "we may shove off now, Bill.  You are to be
+captain, and take the helm, and I'll pull till we get out far enough to
+find a breeze.  It seems to me, by the colour of the sea, that it's
+blowing in the offing, and we shall then spin merrily along."
+
+"All right," said Bill; "cast off, Jack."
+
+Jack hauled in the rope which had secured the raft to the wreck, and
+give a hearty shove against it with his oar, he sent the raft gliding
+off some way ahead.  He then got out the other oar, and standing between
+the two chests, pulled lustily away.
+
+The raft floated even more lightly than they had expected.  They had so
+well noted all the rocks, that they could easily find their way between
+them, and there was ample space, especially thereabouts where the brig
+had been driven in.
+
+Their progress was but slow, though they worked away with all their
+might; every now and then looking back to ascertain whether they were
+observed from the shore.  No one, however, could be seen on the cliffs
+above; and people, unless they had discovered the wreck, were not likely
+at that early hour to come down to the beach.
+
+It took them more than half an hour to get clear of the rocks.  When
+once out on the open sea, they began to breathe more freely.  They
+pulled on and on; still, unless they should get the wind, they could not
+hope to make much progress.  The day was advancing.  Bill wetted his
+finger and held it up.
+
+"There's a breeze," he cried out; "hoist the sail, Jack."
+
+The sail filled as Bill sheeted it home, and the raft began to glide
+more rapidly over the water.
+
+Jack took in the oars, for he wanted to rest, and there was but little
+use rowing, though it might have helped the raft on slightly.
+
+He could now look about him, and as the two harbours to the east and
+west opened out, he turned his eyes anxiously towards them.
+
+If they were pursued, it would be from one or the other.  He had little
+fear from that on the west, as there was no one likely to trouble
+himself about the matter; but there were officials living near the
+larger harbour, and they might think it their duty to ascertain what the
+small raft standing off shore under sail could be about.
+
+"I wish that we had got away a couple of hours ago," said Bill; but he
+did not remind Jack that it was through his fault they had not done so.
+He blamed himself, indeed, for having gone to see the Turgots, much as
+he would have regretted leaving the country without paying them a visit.
+
+The farther the raft got from the shore the more rapidly it glided
+along, the sea being too smooth in any way to impede its progress.
+
+Bill's whole attention was taken up in steering, so as to keep the raft
+right before the wind.
+
+Presently Jack cried out, "There's a boat coming out of the harbour.
+She's just hoisted her sail, and a whacking big sail it is.  She's
+coming after us.  Oh!  Bill! what shall we do?"
+
+"Try to keep ahead of her," answered Bill, glancing round for a moment.
+"The Frenchmen may not think it worth while to chase us far, even if
+they are in chase of us, and that's not certain.  Don't let us cry out
+before we are hurt.  Get out the oars, they'll help us on a little, and
+we'll do our best to escape.  I don't fancy being shut up again, or
+perhaps being carried off to a prison, and forced into a dungeon, or
+maybe shot, for they'll declare that we are escaped prisoners."
+
+Jack did not, however, require these remarks to make him pull with all
+his might; still he could not help looking back occasionally.  He was
+standing up, it should be understood, rowing forward, with the oars
+crossing, the larboard oar held in the right hand, and the starboard in
+the left.
+
+"The boat's coming on three knots to our one," he cried out.  "It won't
+take her long to be up with us."
+
+"Pull away," again cried Bill.  "We'll hold on till the Frenchmen begin
+to fire.  If their bullets come near us, it will be time to think
+whether it will be worth running the risk of being shot."
+
+Jack continued to row with might and main, and the raft went wonderfully
+fast over the water.  It was too evident, however, that the boat was in
+pursuit of them, and in a few minutes a musket ball splashed into the
+water a short distance astern of the raft.
+
+"That shows that they are in earnest," said Jack.  "We had better lower
+the sail, another might come aboard us."
+
+"Hold all fast, perhaps they are getting tired of chasing us, and may
+give it up when they see that we are determined to get away," replied
+Bill; not that he had much hope that this was the case, but he stuck to
+the principle of not giving in as long as there was a chance of escape.
+
+Jack had plenty of courage, but he did not like being fired at without
+the means of returning the compliment.
+
+Another shot from the boat came whistling close to them.
+
+"It's of no use," cried Jack, "we must lower the sail."
+
+"If you're afraid, take in the oars and lie down between the chests;
+you'll run very little risk of being hit there; but for my part, I'll
+stand at the helm till the boat gets up with us," said Bill.
+
+Jack would not do this, but pulled away as stoutly as at first.
+
+Presently another shot struck one of the oars, and so splintered it that
+the next pull Jack gave it broke short off.  He was now compelled to
+take in the other.
+
+"The next time the Frenchmen fire they may aim better," he said.  "Come,
+Bill, I'm ready to stand by you, but there's no use being killed if we
+can help it."
+
+"The boat isn't up with us yet," answered Bill.  "Till she gets
+alongside I'll hold on, and maybe at the very last the Frenchmen will
+give up."
+
+"I don't see any hope of that," said Jack.  "In ten minutes we shall be
+prisoners.  By-the-bye, I turned all my gold into this chest.  If the
+Frenchmen find it they'll keep it, so I'll fill my pockets again, and
+they may not think of looking into them, but they're sure to rummage the
+chest."
+
+Saying this, Jack opened the chest, and soon found his treasure, which
+he restored to his pockets.  He asked Bill to take some, but Bill
+declined on the same ground that he had before refused to appropriate
+it.
+
+Bill again advised Jack to lie down, and, to induce him to do so, he
+himself knelt on the raft, as he could in that position steer as well as
+when standing up.
+
+Thus they presented the smallest possible mark to the Frenchmen.
+
+Shot after shot was fired at them.  Their chances of escape were indeed
+rapidly diminishing.
+
+At last the Frenchmen ceased firing.
+
+They were either struck by the hardihood of the boys, or had expended
+their ammunition; but the boat came on as rapidly as before, and was now
+not half a cable's length from them.
+
+"We must lower the sail," cried Bill, with a sigh, "or the Frenchmen
+maybe will run us down;" and Jack let go the halyards.
+
+In another minute the boat was up to them.
+
+Besides her crew, there were five soldiers on board.
+
+A volley of questions burst from the people in the boat; and all seemed
+jabbering and talking together.
+
+As she got alongside the raft, two men leaped out, and seizing Jack and
+Bill, hauled them into the boat, while another made fast the raft, ready
+to tow it back to the harbour.
+
+Jack and Bill were at once handed aft to the stern-sheets, where they
+were made to sit down.  Immediately the officer in command of the boat
+put various questions to them, as to who they were, where they had come
+from, and where they were going.
+
+According to their previous agreement they made no reply, so that their
+captors might not discover that they understood French; still, as far as
+Bill could make out, the Frenchmen were not aware that they were the
+lads who had escaped from the old tower.
+
+They had no reason to complain of the way they were spoken of by the
+Frenchmen, who were evidently struck by their hardihood and
+determination in their persevering efforts to escape.  They remarked to
+each other that their young prisoners were brave boys, and expressed
+their satisfaction that they were not hurt.
+
+When the officer found, as he supposed, that they could not answer him,
+he forbore to put any further questions.
+
+The crew did not appear to be angry at the long pull that had been given
+them back; indeed, Jack and Bill suspected, from what they heard, that
+the seamen, at all events, would not have been sorry if they had escaped
+altogether.
+
+On reaching the landing-place in the harbour, they found a party of
+soldiers, with an officer, who, from what Bill made out, had sent the
+boat in pursuit of them.
+
+As soon as they stepped on shore the officer began to question them, in
+the same way as the commander of the boat had done.
+
+Bill shrugged his shoulders and turned to Jack, and Jack shrugged his
+and turned to Bill, as much as to say, "I wonder what he's talking
+about?"
+
+"The lads do not understand French, that is evident," said the officer
+to a subordinate standing near him; "I shall get nothing out of them
+without an interpreter.  They do not look stupid either, and they must
+be bold fellows, or they would not have attempted to made a voyage on
+that raft.  I must have a nearer look at it;" and he ordered the boatmen
+to bring it in close to the shore, so that he might examine it.
+
+He again turned to Bill, and said, "What were you going to attempt to
+cross the Channel on that?"
+
+Bill, as before, shrugged his shoulders, quite in the French fashion,
+for he had learnt the trick from Pierre, who, when he was in doubt about
+a matter, always did so.
+
+"I forgot; the boy doesn't understand French," observed the officer.
+
+Bill had some little difficulty in refraining from laughing, as he
+understood perfectly well everything that was said around him, except
+when the Frenchmen talked unusually fast.
+
+"Let the raft be moored close to the shore, just in its present state,"
+said the officer; "the general may wish to see it.  How could the lads
+have contrived to build such a machine?"
+
+The commander of the boat explained that a wreck had occurred on the
+shore, and that they had evidently built it from the materials they
+found on board her, but anything further about them he could not say.
+
+"Well, then, I'll take them up at once to the general, and the
+interpreter attached to our division will draw from them all we want to
+know.  Come, lads! you must follow me," he said.  "Sergeant, bring the
+prisoners along with you."
+
+On this Jack and Bill found themselves surrounded by the soldiers; and
+thinking it possible, should they not move fast enough, that their
+movements might be expedited by a prick from the bayonets, they marched
+briskly forward, keeping good pace with the men.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+AGAIN SHUT UP.
+
+"I say, Bill, I wonder what the mounseers are going to do with us,"
+whispered Jack, as they marched along.  "Will they put handcuffs on our
+wrists and throw us into a dungeon, do you think?"
+
+Bill acknowledged that he feared such might be the fate prepared for
+them.  They were not, however, ill-treated during their walk.  Naturally
+they felt very much disappointed at being recaptured, but they tried as
+before to put as bold a face as they could on the matter, and talked
+away to each other in an apparently unconcerned manner.
+
+They found from the remarks of the soldiers that they had a march of a
+couple of miles or more inland to the place where the troops were
+encamped, and that they were not to be carried to the old tower.
+
+On one account they were sorry for this, as, having made their escape
+once, they thought that they might make it again, though, of course,
+they would be more strictly guarded if it was discovered who they were.
+
+From a height they reached they saw the camp spread out on a wide level
+space a short distance off.  As they got nearer to it they observed a
+party of officers on horseback riding towards them, one of whom, from
+the waving plume in his hat, and from his taking the lead, they supposed
+was the general.
+
+They were right in their conjecture.  As he approached with his staff,
+the officer who had charge of them ordered his men to halt and draw on
+one side.
+
+The general reined in his horse and inquired who they were.
+
+The captain explained that two foreign lads, supposed to be English, had
+been discovered, endeavouring to leave the shore on a small raft of
+curious construction, such as no sane people would have wished to go to
+sea on; that there was something very suspicious about their movements,
+as they had persisted in trying to escape, although fired at by the
+soldiers, and that he had considered it his duty to bring them up for
+examination, as he could not understand them or make them understand
+him.
+
+"You acted rightly, Captain Dupont," said the general.  "Let them be
+brought to my quarters, and I'll send for Colonel O'Toole to
+cross-question them."  Bill and Jack understood every word that was
+said.  "We are in for it," said Bill; "but we must put a bold face on
+the matter, and speak the truth.  We can say that we were living in the
+cavern for some time, and that when the brig was wrecked, we resolved at
+once to build a raft, and get back to our own country."
+
+"It would save a great deal of trouble if we were to say that we were
+wrecked in the brig, and then it would be but natural that we should try
+to escape from her," replied Jack.
+
+"It would not be the truth, and we should not be believed," answered
+Bill.  "I would say just what happened--that our ship caught fire and
+blew up, that we were saved by the fishermen, that some French soldiers
+got hold of us and carried us off prisoners, and that we made our escape
+from them.  We need not mention the names of our friends, and perhaps
+the interpreter won't be very particular in making inquiries."
+
+Bill finally persuaded Jack to agree that they should give a true
+account of themselves, leaving out only such particulars as were not
+necessary to mention, such as their visit to the Turgots, and their
+discovery of the smugglers' stores.
+
+The general, who was making a survey of the country around the camp,
+rode on with his staff, while Captain Dupont and his men conducted their
+two young prisoners to head quarters, there to await his return.
+
+The general was residing in an old chateau, with a high-peaked roof, and
+towers at each of the angles of the building.
+
+The party passed through the gateway, and proceeded to a room near the
+chief entrance, which served as a guard-room.
+
+The soldiers remained outside, while the captain, with two men to guard
+the prisoners, entered.  Jack and Bill had to wait for some time, during
+which they were allowed to sit on a bench by themselves.
+
+Jack began to make observations on the people around them.
+
+"Hush!" whispered Bill, "some one here may understand English better
+than we suppose, and we shall be foolish to let our tongues get us into
+a worse scrape than we are in already."
+
+Jack took Bill's advice, and when he made any remark it was in a
+whisper.
+
+They saw several of the officers who entered looking at them, and they
+were evidently the subject of their conversation.  Jack and Bill had
+reason to consider themselves for a time persons of some importance,
+though they had no wish to be so.
+
+At last an officer in a handsome uniform entered.  He was a red-haired
+man, with queer twinkling eyes, and a cock-up nose, anything but of a
+Roman type.
+
+Captain Dupont spoke to him, when the lads saw him eyeing them, and
+presently he came up and said, "Hurroo! now me boys, just be afther
+telling me what part of the world you come from!"
+
+Bill, as agreed on, began his narrative in a very circumstantial manner.
+
+"All moighty foine, if thrue," observed Colonel O'Toole, for he was the
+officer who had just arrived, having been sent for to act as
+interpreter.
+
+"It's true, sir, every word of it," said Bill.
+
+"Well! we shall see, afther you repeat it all over again to the gineral,
+and moind you thin don't made any changes," said the colonel.
+
+Bill wisely did not reply.  Presently the general with his staff
+appeared, he and a few officers passing on into an inner room.  A few
+minutes afterwards Jack and Bill were sent for.
+
+They found the general with Colonel O'Toole and several other persons
+seated at a table.
+
+The general spoke a few words, when the colonel again told the prisoners
+to give an account of themselves.
+
+Bill did so exactly in the words he had before used, Colonel O'Toole
+interpreting sentence by sentence.
+
+"Good!" said the general.  "And what could induce you, when you were
+once safe on shore, to venture out to sea on so dangerous a machine?"
+
+The colonel interpreting, turned to Jack.
+
+"I wanted to get home and see my mother, for she must fancy I am lost,"
+answered Jack.
+
+"Well, and a very right motive too," said the colonel; and he explained
+to the general what Jack had said.
+
+"And what induced you to attempt the voyage?" asked the colonel, turning
+to Bill.  "Did you want to get back to see your mother?"
+
+"No, sir; I have no mother to see," answered Bill.  "I wanted to get
+back to do my duty, and fight the enemies of my country."
+
+The general laughed when this was interpreted to him; and observed to
+the officers around him, "If such is the spirit which animates the boys
+of England, what must we expect from the men?  I must, however, consider
+whether we shall allow these boys to return home.  They are young now,
+but in a short time they will grow into sturdy fellows."
+
+"They've got tongues in their young heads," remarked the colonel.  "I'm
+not altogether certain that they are quite as innocent as they look.
+Maybe they were sent on shore as spies, and perhaps are midshipmen
+disguised as common seamen."
+
+"Let them be searched, then, and ascertain whether they have any papers
+about them which may show their real character," said the general.
+
+Jack and Bill clearly understood these remarks, and began to feel very
+uncomfortable.
+
+Bill remembered that Jack had got his pockets filled with gold, and Jack
+remembered it too, and wished that he had left it behind in the cavern
+as Bill had advised.
+
+The colonel, who was in no wise particular as to what work he performed,
+at once took hold of Bill.
+
+"Come, young gintleman," he said, "let me see what you have got in your
+pockets, and next your skin; or, if you will save me the throuble, just
+hand out your orders or any papers you may have about you."
+
+"I have got none, sir," answered Bill.  "I told you the truth, that we
+are mere ship-boys, and as to being spies as you seem to think, we had
+nothing to spy out that I know of."
+
+"Well, we will soon see all about that," said the colonel, beginning to
+search Bill; but, greatly to his surprise, he found nothing whatever
+about him, except his knife, the whole of Bill's worldly wealth, "I told
+you so, sir," said Bill, when he had finished.  "I spoke only the truth
+about myself and my companion."  Bill said this, hoping that Jack would
+escape the search; but the colonel was far too knowing, and presently he
+seized upon Jack, who, in spite of his efforts to appear unconcerned,
+began to quake.
+
+The first plunge the colonel made with his hand into one of Jack's
+pockets brought forth a number of gold pieces.  "Hurroo! now, this is
+your innocence is it, young gintlemen?" he exclaimed, exhibiting a
+handful of gold to the general.  "Let me be afther seeing what your
+other pocket contains;" and as he spoke he quickly drew forth another
+handful of gold, some of which, observing that the general and the other
+officers were examining the first which he had produced, he slipped into
+his own pocket.
+
+"Troth! you're an arrant young rogue," he exclaimed.  "You either stole
+these, or they were given you to bribe the people to betray their
+country."
+
+"They were not given me to bribe any one, and I didn't steal them,"
+answered Jack, boldly; "I took them out of the chest which was on our
+raft, and there was no harm in doing that, I should think."
+
+Bill was somewhat surprised to hear Jack say this.  It was the truth,
+and the idea must have at that moment occurred to him.  He was thus
+saved from having to betray the existence of the boxes of gold in the
+cavern, which the colonel would not have long allowed to remain
+unvisited, he suspected, from the little incident which has just been
+described.
+
+The colonel translated fairly enough to the general what Jack had just
+said.
+
+"It is probably the truth," he remarked; "however, let the boys be
+detained till we can ascertain more about them.  I don't wish to have
+them ill-treated.  There is a room in the western turret where they can
+be shut up securely till to-morrow.  Colonel O'Toole, see that my orders
+are carried out; but you can first let them have a view of the army,
+that they may tell their friends, if they get home, of the mighty force
+prepared for the conquest of England, and impress on the minds of their
+countrymen how hopeless is their attempt to resist the armies of
+France."
+
+Bill understood every word of these remarks, and they raised his hopes
+that they might be set at liberty and allowed to return home; still, the
+Irish colonel did not look very amiably at them; perhaps he did not
+quite like Bill's observations.
+
+"Come along," he said, turning to them; and, bowing to the general and
+to the other officers, he conducted them from the room, when the two
+soldiers, who stood ready outside, again took charge of them.
+
+They were led along to a terrace, from whence a view extended over the
+surrounding country.  Here they saw an almost countless number of white
+tents pitched, with soldiers in various uniforms moving among them.
+
+"Can you count those tents?" asked the colonel.  "Each tent contains
+eleven or thirteen men, and one spirit animates the whole--that is, the
+conquest of perfidious Albion."
+
+"They'll have a tough job, sir, let me tell them," observed Bill.  "I
+haven't seen much of English sojers except the Guards in London, and our
+Marines on board ship, but I know that one of our Guardsmen would lick a
+whole tentful of the little chaps I see about here; and I would advise
+the general to stay quietly at home, and not attempt to take our tight
+little island."
+
+"The French have wrongs to revenge, as have my gallant people, and
+bitterly will they revenge them some day, when your king and his nobles
+are brought in chains to France."
+
+"That won't be just yet, and may be never," answered Bill, who was
+growing bold, and inclined to speak his mind.  "I'll not bandy words
+with you, boy.  Take care what you are about!" exclaimed the colonel,
+who did not like Bill's boldness, especially when he saw a broad grin on
+Jack's countenance.  "If you ever get back to England--and I don't say
+you ever will get back--remember what you have seen to-day, and tell
+those wretched slaves your countrymen what they are to expect."
+
+"We'll not forget it, sir," answered Bill, thinking it wiser to be
+civil; "and I hope the general won't think it necessary to keep in
+prison two poor sailor boys who never did any harm to the French, and
+never wished to do any harm, except to thrash them well in a fair
+stand-up fight; and you will allow, sir, that that's all right and fair
+play."
+
+"Or receive a thrashing from them," answered the colonel; "however, come
+along.  I must see you stowed safely in the tower, where the general has
+ordered you to be placed, and moind you kape quiet and don't kick up a
+row, as you midshipmen are apt to do."
+
+"We are not midshipmen, sir," said Bill, who had not forgotten what the
+colonel had before said.  "We are humble boys serving before the mast.
+Jack, there, is a fisherman's son, and I am a poor boy out of the London
+streets.  I am only telling you the truth, sir."
+
+"You are a very sharp boy, then," responded the colonel, looking at
+Bill.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Bill, "the school I went to is a place where boys are
+apt to get their wits sharpened.  They have little else to depend on."
+
+The colonel still seemed to doubt whether Bill was speaking the truth,
+and, perhaps fortunately for them, was fully impressed with the idea
+that he had charge of a couple of midshipmen.  Possibly Bill was a
+lord's son; and though he railed against English lords, yet, when
+brought into contact with them, he was inclined to pay them the deepest
+respect.
+
+Owing to the colonel's idea, Bill and Jack were treated with far more
+attention than they otherwise would have received.
+
+The room into which they were put, though small, had a table and chairs
+in it, and a bed in one corner.
+
+"You will remain here for the present," said the colonel, as he saw them
+into the room; "probably before long the general may wish to examine you
+again, and I would advise you to take care that you tell him only the
+truth, and confess your object in coming to the country."
+
+Bill made no answer; and the colonel, after again surveying the room,
+took his departure, locking the door behind him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+THE ESCAPE.
+
+Jack and Bill heard Colonel O'Toole descending the stairs, and,
+listening, were convinced that he had gone away without leaving a sentry
+at the door.
+
+"We are in luck," said Bill, as he looked round the room.  "This is a
+better place than the old tower, and I don't see that it will be much
+more difficult to escape from."
+
+They went to the window.  It was long and narrow, but there was ample
+space for them to creep out of it.  It was, however, a great height from
+the ground; three or four storeys up they calculated; and should they
+attempt to drop down, they would break every bone in their bodies.
+
+"It cannot be done, I fear," said Jack.
+
+"It can be done, and we'll do it before to-morrow morning, too,"
+answered Bill.  "When the general ordered us to be shut up here, he was
+thinking that we were just like a couple of French boys, without a
+notion of going aloft, or of finding their way down again."
+
+"But I don't see how we can manage to get down here," said Jack, peeping
+through the window, cautiously though, for fear of being seen.  "There
+is nothing to lay hold of, and the door is locked and bolted.  I heard
+that traitor Irishman shoot a bolt before he went away."
+
+"Look here," replied Bill, pointing towards the bed.
+
+"Why, that's a bed," said Jack.  "It was very good-natured in the
+mounseers to give it us to sleep on."
+
+"What do you think it's made of?" asked Bill.  "Why, sheets and blankets
+and ticking," replied Jack.  "Yes," said Bill, "you are right; and with
+those selfsame sheets and blankets, and maybe a fathom or two of rope
+besides, underneath, I intend that we shall try to lower ourselves down
+to the ground; and when we are once outside, it will be our own fault if
+we do not get back to the harbour, and when there, that we do not get on
+board our raft again.  The French captain said it was to be left just as
+it was for the general to see it to-morrow morning.  Before that time
+comes, I hope that we shall be out of sight of land, if we get a fair
+breeze, or, at all events, out of sight of the people on shore."
+
+"I'm always ready for anything you propose, Bill," said Jack.  "I see
+now well enough how we are to get away.  If all goes smoothly, we shall
+do it.  But suppose we are caught?--and there are a good many chances
+against us, you'll allow."
+
+"We can but be shut up again.  Even if they were to flog us, we could
+stand it well enough; and as to the pain, that would be nothing, and it
+would not be like being flogged for breaking the articles of war, or
+doing anything against the law.  I should call it an honourable
+flogging, and should not mind showing the scars, if any remained," said
+Bill.
+
+"I'm your man, and the sooner we set about turning our sheets and
+blankets into a rope the better," exclaimed Jack, enthusiastically.  "If
+we are caught and punished ever so much, we must not mind it."
+
+"Stop a bit," said Bill.  "Perhaps the red-haired colonel may pay us a
+visit before nightfall.  We must not be caught making preparations for
+our escape; that would be a green trick."
+
+"I hope if they come they'll bring us some supper," said Jack.  "I am
+pretty sharp set already; and if the mounseers should have stolen the
+grub out of our chest, we should have nothing to eat on our voyage."
+
+"I have been thinking too much about going away to feel hungry," said
+Bill.  "But now you talk of it, I should like some food, and I hope
+they'll bring enough to last us for a day or two.  Now, I say, it's
+getting dark, and we must fix upon the best spot to lower ourselves down
+to.  You listen at the door lest any one should come up suddenly, and
+I'll examine the windows and settle the best plan."
+
+Bill, however, first went to the bed, examined the blankets and sheets
+and mattress, and found, to his satisfaction, that below all were two
+thick pieces of canvas, drawn together by a rope.  The rope, though
+rather thin, would, he was satisfied, bear their light weights.  It
+might take them half an hour or so to twist the various materials up
+into a rope, and altogether would give them one of ample length for
+their purpose.
+
+This discovery greatly raised the boys' spirits and hopes of success.
+
+Bill now went to the window, and found that the grass came close up to
+the walls of the tower underneath.  Even should they fall from a
+considerable height, they might have the chance of not breaking their
+bones, and that was some satisfaction.  An iron bar extended from the
+top of the window to the bottom in the centre.  He felt it, and it was
+strong as need be.  It would do well for securing their rope.  As far as
+he could judge, there was no window under them.  This was of
+consequence, as had there been, they might have been seen by any person
+within during their descent, rapidly as they might make it.  Bill
+considered whether it would be possible to withdraw the rope after they
+had descended, but he doubted whether they had sufficient materials to
+enable them to do that.
+
+"Well, it cannot be helped," Bill said to himself.  "The Frenchmen will
+see how we escaped, but they won't find it out till daylight, and it
+won't matter much then."
+
+He had finished his survey, and settled his plan, when Jack cried out,
+"Hist! there's some one coming!" and they ran back and sat themselves
+down near the table with their heads on their hands, as if they were
+feeling very melancholy and disconsolate.
+
+"I wish I could squeeze out a tear," said Jack; "but I can't for the
+life of me.  I feel so jolly at your idea of getting off."
+
+Presently the door opened, and an old woman entered with a basket.
+
+"I have brought you some food and a bottle of wine, mes garcons," she
+said, in a kind tone.  "The general gave me permission, and I was very
+glad to bring it, as I knew that you must be hungry.  Poor boys!  I
+heard of your attempt to get away.  You would have been drowned to a
+certainty if you hadn't been caught, and that would have been sad, for
+one of you, they say, wanted to get back to see his mother.  I have got
+a son at sea, so I can feel for her.  I wish he was safe back again.  I
+don't know what they will do with you, but I hear that you are to be
+tried to-morrow, and the Irish officer here says you are spies, and if
+so, you will run a great chance of being hung, or, at all events, shut
+up in a prison till you confess what you have been about.  Ah! but I
+forgot.  They say you don't speak French, and you may not have
+understood a word I have said."
+
+Jack and Bill could scarcely refrain from laughing as the old woman ran
+on, but they restrained themselves, and when she showed them the
+contents of the basket, they merely said, "Bon! bon! merci! merci!"
+several times, and looked very well pleased, as indeed they were, for
+there was food enough to last them two or three days, full allowance--
+cheese and sausages, bread, figs, raisins, and butter, besides the
+bottle of wine.
+
+They were afraid of drinking much of that, not knowing how weak it was,
+lest it should get into their heads, for they wanted no Dutch courage to
+do what they intended--they had pluck enough without that.
+
+The old woman--not that she was so very old, but she was small and thin,
+with a high white cap and a brown dress fitting closely, which made her
+look older than she was--stood by, after she had covered the table with
+the provisions, that she might have the pleasure of seeing the boys eat.
+They were very willing to give her that pleasure, and set to with a
+good appetite.
+
+She smiled benignantly, and patted them on their heads, as she watched
+them stowing away the various things.  They were not very particular as
+to which they took first.
+
+"Bon! bon!" said Jack, every now and then, as he saw that his saying so
+pleased her.  "Merci! merci!"
+
+She poured them out some wine; it was dreadfully sour, so Bill thought,
+and he made signs to her that he would drink it by-and-by, as he did not
+like to show her how much he disliked it.
+
+Jack was not so particular, but he was content with a mouthful or two,
+and then began again on the sausages and figs.
+
+"I hope she is not going to stop till we have done," said Bill, "or she
+may take away the remainder.  I'll try and make her understand that we
+should like a little more by-and-by.  I vote we stop now and put the
+things into the basket.  We'll then show her that we do not wish her to
+take them away."
+
+The kind old housekeeper of the chateau--for such she was--seemed to
+understand the boys' wishes.  Bill even ventured to say a few words in
+French, which would show her what they wanted; and at last, wishing them
+good-night, she took her departure.
+
+They heard the door locked and bolted after she went out, as if by some
+other person; and it made them fear that a sentry was placed there, who
+might, should they make any noise, look in to see what they were about.
+It would be necessary, therefore, to be extremely cautious as to their
+proceedings.
+
+"There's no one moving," said Bill, who had crept to the door to listen.
+He, of course, spoke in a low whisper.  "I vote we set to work at once
+and make our rope.  It will take some time, and we ought to be off as
+soon as the people have turned in, as we must try to get a good distance
+from the shore before daylight."
+
+"Suppose any one was to come, and find us cutting up our bed-clothes,"
+said Jack, "it would be suspected what we were going to do."
+
+"We'll keep the coverlid till the last, so as to throw it over the bed
+should we hear a step on the stair; we must then sit down on the edge,
+and pretend that we are too sorrowful to think of going to bed," said
+Bill.
+
+"That will do," replied Jack; "I never was a good hand at piping my eye,
+but I know that I should be inclined to blubber if I thought there was a
+chance of being found out."
+
+"There's no use talking about that.  We must run the risk," observed
+Bill; "so here goes."  And he forthwith turned back the coverlid, and
+began measuring the sheets.  They were of strong and tough material, and
+by dividing each into four lengths, he calculated that a rope formed of
+them would be of sufficient strength for their purpose, and they were
+quickly cut through with their knives, and each length was then twisted
+tightly up.
+
+The bed-ticking was treated in the same manner; but that being of less
+strength, gave them only six much shorter lengths.  The sacking and rope
+at the bottom of the bed would, Bill was sure, reach, at all events, to
+a short distance from the ground.
+
+As they twisted and bent one piece to another, they surveyed their work
+with satisfaction, and were convinced that it would bear their weight,
+though it would hardly have borne that of a man of moderate size.  To
+try it, they tugged away against each other, and it held perfectly firm.
+
+"It will do famously," exclaimed Bill, after they had joined all the
+pieces together.  "Even if it does not quite reach to the ground, I
+should not mind dropping a dozen feet or so."
+
+"But if we do that, the noise we make in our fall may be heard," said
+Jack.  "Hadn't we better bend on the coverlid?  It's not so strong as
+the sheets, but we can put it at the lower end."
+
+Bill agreed to this, and, as it was of considerable width, it formed
+three lengths.
+
+"We have enough almost for a double rope, I expect," said Bill, as he
+coiled it away ready to carry to the window at the opposite side of the
+room.
+
+"Oh, no; I don't think we've enough for that," said Jack; "even if we
+had, it won't matter leaving the rope behind.  The Frenchmen will see by
+the disappearance of the bed-clothes how we got out.  I advise that we
+make only one rope, and just get down to the ground as quietly as we can
+manage to do."
+
+Bill made another trip to the door to listen.
+
+"No one is coming," he whispered, as he returned.  "Now let's carry the
+rope to the window."
+
+They did so, and Bill leant out to listen again.  No sounds reached his
+ear, except the occasional barking of a dog.
+
+"The people go to bed early in this country," he observed, "and I am
+very much obliged to them.  We may start, Jack, without much fear of
+being stopped."
+
+"But don't let us forget our grub," said Jack; and they filled their
+pockets with the provisions the old woman had brought them, tying up the
+remainder in their handkerchiefs, which they fastened to the lanyards of
+their knives.  "Now let's bend on the rope," said Bill.
+
+They secured it round the iron bar.
+
+"I'll go first," said Jack; "if the rope bears me, it's certain to bear
+you."
+
+"No; I proposed the plan, and I ought to go first," answered Bill.
+"It's of no use wasting words.  Don't begin to come down till you feel
+that I am off the rope.  So here goes."
+
+Bill, on saying this, climbed through the narrow opening between the bar
+and the side of the window, and then, first grasping the bar with his
+hands, threw his legs off straight down, and began descending the thin
+rope.  Jack stretched out his head to watch him, but Bill soon
+disappeared in the darkness.
+
+The rope held, however, though, as he felt it, it appeared stretched to
+the utmost.  He could with difficulty draw a breath, while he waited
+till, by finding the rope slacken, he should know that Bill had safely
+reached the bottom.  At last he ascertained that Bill was no longer
+hanging to the rope, while, from not hearing a sound, he was sure that
+his companion had performed the feat in safety.
+
+As Bill had charged him not to lose a moment, he, following his example,
+commenced his descent.
+
+Down and down he went, but had he not been thoroughly accustomed to
+suspend himself on thin ropes, he could not have held on.  It seemed to
+him that he should never reach the bottom; how much further he had to go
+he could not tell.
+
+All at once he felt a hand grasping him by the leg.  A sudden fear
+seized him.
+
+Could the Frenchmen have got hold of Bill, and were they about to
+recapture him?
+
+He could with difficulty refrain from crying out; still, as there would
+be no use in attempting to get up the rope again, he continued to lower
+himself.
+
+The hand was withdrawn, and presently he found that he had reached the
+ground.
+
+"All right," whispered Bill in his ear; "I caught hold of your ankle to
+let you understand that you were close to the bottom.  Now let's be off!
+The harbour lies directly under yonder star.  I marked its position
+during daylight, and again just before I began to descend the rope."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+VOYAGE ON THE RAFT.
+
+Bill and Jack remained for a few seconds in the dark shade caused by the
+tall wall of the chateau, listening attentively for any sounds of people
+moving about.  None reached their ears, and only here and there, in the
+more distant part of the building, were any lights to be seen gleaming
+from the windows.
+
+"We may run for it now without much chance of being seen," said Bill.
+"We must step lightly, though, or we may be heard by some of the
+sentries.  Keep your eye on the star, it's the best guide we have for
+the harbour.  Now for it! let's start."
+
+They set off, treading as lightly as they could on the ground with their
+bare feet, the soles of which were pretty well hardened.  For some
+distance they had only grass to run over, and a couple of phantoms could
+scarcely have produced less sound.
+
+In a short time, however, they reached a fence.  It was somewhat rotten,
+and as they were climbing over it, a part gave way and came down with a
+crash.
+
+"Quick!" said Bill, as he was helping over Jack, who followed him; "we
+must run on like the wind; somebody may be coming to find out what's the
+matter."
+
+They did not stop, as may be supposed, to repair the damage they had
+caused, but soon reaching a road which led in the direction they wished
+to take, they scampered on at full speed.
+
+Tall trees grew on either side of the road, which, casting a dark shadow
+over it, would have effectually concealed them from view, even if
+anybody had been looking out for them.  The darkness, however, also
+prevented them from seeing any one who might be ahead.
+
+Sometimes indeed they had a difficulty in keeping in the middle of the
+road.
+
+"I hope we're going in the right direction," said Jack; "I can't see the
+star, and the road seems to me to have twisted about."
+
+"We must, at all events, go on," answered Bill.  "Perhaps we shall catch
+sight of the star again before long, and we must steer our course
+accordingly.  There's no use stopping still."
+
+They went on and on.
+
+"There it is at last," cried Jack.
+
+The trees which lined the road were much lower, being indeed mere
+pollards, and allowed them to see the sky overhead.
+
+Presently they heard a dog bark; then another and another.  Could the
+brutes be barking at them?
+
+It was a sign that there were dwellings near, and the inhabitants might
+be looking out to ascertain what made their dogs bark.
+
+"Never mind," whispered Bill; "the chances are that the dogs are tied
+up, and if we keep moving the people won't see us."
+
+They passed through the village or hamlet.
+
+They were still, they knew, some distance from the harbour.
+
+Here and there only could they see a light twinkling from a window,
+probably of some sick-chamber.  It was pretty evident that most of the
+people had gone to bed, still some one or other might be up who would
+give the alarm.
+
+They found themselves verging to the right; it was better, however, than
+keeping to the left side, which might lead them away from the harbour.
+Presently they came to some grassy downs, and the regular road they had
+been pursuing turned sharp off to the left.
+
+"We had better keep straight on," said Bill; "we shall be more exposed
+on the open downs; but then it isn't likely that anybody will be there
+to see us, so that won't matter."
+
+Jack, as usual, was ready to do whatever Bill proposed.  They got
+quickly over the grass, which was cropped short by sheep feeding on it,
+and they could manage to see somewhat better than they had done on the
+road.  Presently Jack, whose eyesight was even keener than Bill's,
+having been well practised at night from his childhood, caught his
+companion's arm, exclaiming, "Hold back; it seems to me that we have got
+to the edge of the downs."
+
+They crept cautiously forward.  In another instant they would have leapt
+down a cliff some hundred feet in height, and been dashed to pieces.
+
+They turned away from it, shuddering at the fearful risk they had run,
+and kept along on somewhat lower ground, still having the star which had
+before guided them ahead.
+
+Once more they found themselves approaching buildings, but they were low
+and scattered; evidently only in the outskirts of the village.
+
+"We must be close to the harbour now," said Jack.
+
+"The greater reason that we should be cautious," observed Bill.  "This
+road, I suspect, leads right down to the part of the harbour we want to
+reach."
+
+They ran on, their hope of escape increasing.
+
+Suddenly they heard the voice of a man shouting out, "Who goes there?"
+
+Bill seized Jack's arm, and pulled him down in the shadow of a high
+wall, near which they happened at that moment to find themselves.
+
+Some minutes they waited, scarcely daring to draw breath.
+
+The shout was not repeated.
+
+"We may go on now," whispered Jack; and getting up, they crept forward.
+Presently, below them, they caught sight of the harbour, with the stars
+reflected on its surface.
+
+The most difficult part of their undertaking was now to be performed.
+They had to find out exactly where their raft lay.
+
+Bill had not failed to observe the shape of the harbour, and to take
+note of the various objects on shore, as he and Jack were brought in
+prisoners by the French boat; but the partial survey he was then able to
+make did not enable him to settle positively in what direction they
+ought to proceed to find their raft.
+
+By keeping on as they were then going they believed that they should
+make the shore of the harbour at no great distance from the mouth.  They
+might then keep along up it until they reached the place where they
+landed, near which they hoped to find their raft moored.
+
+"I am only afraid that we may meet some guards or patrols, or fishermen
+coming on shore or going off to their vessels," observed Jack.
+
+"If we do we must try to hide ourselves," answered Bill.  "We'll keep
+along as close as we can under the cliffs, or any walls or houses we are
+passing, so that we may see people before we are seen ourselves."
+
+They acted as Bill suggested, and pushed boldly onwards.  Not a sound
+was heard coming either from the land side or from the harbour.  The
+water was as smooth as glass.
+
+They were still going forward when Jack seized Bill's arm.  "That's the
+place," he whispered.  "I can make out the raft, moored outside a boat
+at the end of a slip."
+
+Bill, creeping forward, assured himself that Jack was right, and, as
+nothing could be gained by waiting a moment, they hurried on, and in a
+few seconds were on board their raft.  Jack plunged his hand into one of
+the chests, to ascertain that the articles it had contained were still
+there.  They had not been taken away.
+
+He could scarcely refrain from shouting out for joy.
+
+Even the oars had not been removed.
+
+They got another from the boat alongside to supply the place of the one
+which had been splintered.
+
+"Cut the warps," cried Bill.  "We'll paddle on till we find the breeze."
+
+The raft was quickly cast loose, and, getting out the oars, they began
+to paddle silently down the harbour.  They could not avoid making some
+slight noise, but they hoped that there was no one on the watch to hear
+it.  Very frequently they turned their glances astern to ascertain if
+they were followed, but they could see nothing moving.  There were
+several vessels lower down the harbour, so they steered a course which
+would carry them past at some little distance from them.
+
+The raft moved easily over the smooth surface, and they made good way.
+There was only one vessel more which they had to pass before they
+reached the harbour's mouth.  They both earnestly hoped that her crew
+were fast asleep, and that no watch was kept on deck.
+
+They paddled slowly by, and more than half a cable's length from her,
+moving their oars as gently as possible, and scarcely daring to breathe.
+The slightest sound might betray them.
+
+At length they got outside her, and there was nothing now between them
+and the open channel.
+
+Again Jack could hardly refrain from shouting.
+
+Just then a voice came from the vessel.
+
+Bill looked back.  He judged by the distance the vessel was off that the
+character of the raft could not be discovered.  He answered in very good
+French, "We are going out early this morning, and if we have good luck
+in fishing, we'll bring you some for breakfast."
+
+"Thank you, my friend, thank you," answered the man on board the vessel.
+
+Bill had been paddling on all the time he was speaking.  He was certain
+that the man did not suspect who he and Jack were, and in a few minutes
+they lost sight of the vessel altogether.
+
+They now gave way with might and main.  They were rowing for life and
+liberty; for if again caught, they fully believed that they should be
+shot.  How anxiously they wished that a breeze would spring up!
+
+For fully an hour they rowed on, till the shore faded from sight.
+
+They were steering by the polar star, which both Jack and Bill knew
+well.
+
+"If there's a breeze from the southward, we ought to feel it by this
+time," observed Jack.
+
+"Never fear; we shall find it before long," answered Bill.  "We are not
+so far away from the cliffs as you suppose, and it would be as well not
+to speak loud, or our voices may reach any boat passing, or even people
+on shore."
+
+"I hope there will be none there at this hour, though they will come
+down fast enough in the morning from the chateau, when they find we have
+taken French leave," said Jack.
+
+"A very proper thing to take, too, seeing we were in France," remarked
+Bill, with a quiet chuckle.  "I hope we shall never set foot on its
+shores again."
+
+"So do I; but I'm afraid we have a great chance of doing so, unless we
+get a breeze pretty soon.  I am inclined to whistle for it," said Jack.
+
+"It won't come the faster for that," answered Bill.  "We shall do more
+good by working our oars.  We are sending the raft along at three knots
+an hour at least, and as it will be three hours or more before daylight,
+we shall be ten miles or so away from the shore, even if we do not get a
+breeze, before the Frenchmen find out that we have got off."
+
+As Bill advised, he and Jack continued pulling away as lustily as at
+first.
+
+The smoothness of the water was a great advantage to them, for had there
+been any sea their progress would have been much slower.
+
+An hour or more passed away, when Bill exclaimed, "Here comes the wind,
+and right aft, too!  It's not very strong yet, but it will freshen soon,
+I hope.  Stand by, Jack, to hoist the sail!"
+
+"Ay, ay!" answered Jack, taking hold of the halyards and feeling that
+all was clear.
+
+"Hand me the sheet; and now hoist away," said Bill.
+
+Jack, with right good will, hauled away at the halyards, and the sail
+was soon set.
+
+The raft felt the influence of the breeze and glided on at an increased
+speed.  It was cheery to hear the water rippling against the bows.
+
+"We must take care not to capsize the raft if the wind increases much,"
+observed Bill.  "Keep the halyards ready to let go in a moment; the sail
+is full large for our craft, and it would not take long to capsize it."
+
+"Trust me for that," said Jack; "I have no wish to be drowned, and I
+feel wonderfully jolly at the thought of having got away.  Are you
+steering a right course, Bill?  It seems to me that the sail must be
+between you and the polar star."
+
+"No; I can see it directly over the yard when I stand up and keep well
+aft," answered Bill.  "The wind, too, won't let us go in any other
+direction."
+
+"How about the tide?" asked Jack.
+
+"Why, as it was just on the ebb when we came out of the harbour, and
+helped us along, it is, I calculate, making to the westward.  It won't,
+however, run much longer in that direction, and it will then carry us to
+the eastward for a good six hours.  We'll be well out of sight of land
+by that time, and, I hope, may fall in with an English cruiser, though,
+for my part, I would rather run right across the Channel.  It would be
+fine fun to land, and tell the people how we managed it.  They would
+think more of our raft than the Frenchmen did, though there are not many
+boys afloat who would not try to do as we have done."
+
+Jack was of the same opinion, and as there was no necessity for rowing,
+while Bill steered, Jack sat on a chest with his arms folded.  Suddenly
+he exclaimed, "I say, Bill, I am getting very peckish; I vote we have
+some supper."
+
+"Well, we have not far to go for it," observed Bill, "seeing we have got
+enough in our pockets to last us for the whole of to-morrow."
+
+As Bill could not well manage to steer and tend the sheet and eat his
+supper, too, he let Jack finish his; after which they changed places,
+and Bill fell to with a good appetite on some of the old Frenchwoman's
+provisions.
+
+"I hope the kind old creature won't get into any scrape for supplying
+us," said Bill.
+
+"I don't see how it will be found out that she gave us so much," said
+Jack.  "When she finds that we are gone, she'll keep her own counsel,
+depend on that."
+
+"We must not expend the food too fast, though," remarked Bill.  "It will
+take us several days to get across Channel; and it won't do to run short
+of provisions."
+
+"You forget those we have in the chest," said Jack.
+
+"Are you certain that the Frenchmen allowed them to remain there," asked
+Bill, opening the lid of one of them, and feeling about.  "Yes! here's a
+piece of beef or pork and some biscuit.  All right, we shall do now.
+I'll take the helm again if you like; I feel more comfortable when I'm
+at it, though you steer well enough, I dare say."
+
+"As you like," said Jack.  "I'd just as soon stand by the halyards."
+
+They again changed places.
+
+Bill kept his eye on the polar star, while Jack peered under the sail
+ahead, that they might not, as he said, run down any craft.
+
+Thus the night passed away.  The breeze slightly increased, but Bill
+considered that they might still carry their whole sail with safety.
+Perhaps they did not move along quite so fast as he supposed.  He told
+Jack that he thought they were running through the water at five knots
+an hour; but four, or even three, knots was a good deal for a raft to
+make, with flat bows, light and well put together as it was.
+
+They were too much excited to feel the slightest inclination to sleep,
+and being both in capital spirits, did not trouble themselves with
+thinking of the possibility that the weather might change before they
+could get across to the English coast.  A fast lugger would take nearly
+two days to do the distance.
+
+The dawn now broke, and they eagerly looked out on every side for a
+sail.  As the light increased they were greatly disappointed, on gazing
+astern, to discover the French coast still in sight, though blue and
+indistinct, like a cloud rising out of the water.  No sail, however, was
+to be seen in that direction.  That was a comfort; they were not pursued
+by any large craft, and could certainly not be seen from the shore.
+
+To the northward, however, they caught sight of a sail just rising above
+the horizon, and soon afterwards another was seen to the eastward, but
+which way she was standing they could not determine.
+
+As the sun rose the wind decreased, and before long it became perfectly
+calm.
+
+"We must lower the sail and take to our oars again," said Bill.  "It
+won't do to stop where we are."
+
+"I am ready to pull on as long as I have any strength in me," answered
+Jack, as he stowed the sail, and got out his oar.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+A NARROW ESCAPE--THE FUGITIVES PICKED UP BY A FRIGATE.
+
+The rest Jack and Bill had obtained while their raft was under sail
+enabled them to row with as much vigour as at first; and row they did
+with might and main, knowing that their liberty might depend upon their
+exertions.
+
+The calm was very trying, for they had expected to be wafted quickly
+across the Channel, and row as hard as they could, their progress must
+be slow.  After rowing for a couple of hours or more, they found
+themselves apparently no nearer the ship ahead than they had been at
+first.
+
+At length hunger compelled them to lay in their oars and take some
+breakfast.  They ate a hearty one, for they had plenty of provisions;
+but on examining their stock of water they found that they must be very
+economical, or they might run short of that necessary of life.
+
+After a short rest, Bill sprang to his feet.
+
+"It won't do to be stopping," he observed.  "If we only make a couple of
+miles an hour it will be something, and we shall be so much nearer home,
+and so much farther away from the French shore."
+
+"I'm afraid that when the mounseers find out that we have escaped, they
+will be sending after us," said Jack.  "They will be ashamed of being
+outwitted by a couple of English boys, and will do all they can to bring
+us back."
+
+"I believe you are right, Jack," replied Bill; "only, as they certainly
+will not be able to see us from the shore, they won't know in what
+direction to pull, and may fancy that we are hid away somewhere along
+the coast."
+
+"They'll guess well enough that we should have pulled to the nor'ard,
+and will be able to calculate by the set of the tide whereabouts to find
+us," said Jack.  "We mustn't trust too much to being safe as yet.  I
+wonder what that vessel to the eastward is.  She's a ship, for I can see
+her royals above the horizon, and she's certainly nearer than when we
+first made her out."
+
+"She must be standing to the westward, then, and will, I hope, pass
+inside of us, should the breeze spring up again from the same quarter,"
+observed Bill.  "She's probably French, or she would not be so close in
+with the coast."
+
+"As to that, our cruisers stand in close enough at times, and she may be
+English notwithstanding," answered Jack.
+
+"Unless we are certain that she's English we shall be wiser to avoid
+her," remarked Bill, "so we'll pull away to the nor'ard."
+
+"But what do you think of the ship out there?" asked Jack, pointing
+ahead.
+
+"I cannot help believing that she's English," said Bill.  "We must run
+the chance of being seen by her.  We shall have to pull on a good many
+hours, however, first, and when the breeze springs up, she'll pretty
+quickly run either to the eastward or westward."
+
+The boys, however, after all their remarks, could arrive at no
+conclusion.  They rowed and rowed, but still appeared not to have moved
+their position with regard either to the shore or the two vessels in
+sight.
+
+The sun rose high above their heads and struck down with considerable
+force; but they cared little for the heat, though it made them apply
+more frequently than they otherwise would have done to their water-cask.
+Bill had more than once to warn Jack not to drink too much.
+
+The day was drawing on, and at last Jack proposed that they should have
+another rest and take some dinner.  "There's no use starving ourselves,
+and the more we eat the better we shall be able to pull," he said.
+
+Bill was not quite of this opinion.  At the same time he agreed to
+Jack's proposal, as his arms were becoming very weary.
+
+They had just finished their dinner when Jack, getting up on the chest
+in which the mast was stepped, so that he might have a better look-out,
+exclaimed, "I see a sail between us and the land.  The sun just now
+glanced on it.  There's a breeze in shore, depend on it, and it will
+reach us before long."
+
+Bill jumped up to have a look-out also.  He could not distinguish the
+sail, but he thought by the darker colour of the water to the southward
+that a breeze was playing over it, though it had not as yet got as far
+as they were.  They again took to their oars and pulled on.  Jack,
+however, occasionally turned round to look to the southward, for he
+entertained the uncomfortable idea that they were pursued.
+
+They were now, they agreed, nearer the ship to the northward.  Her lofty
+sails must have caught a light westerly air, which did not reach close
+down to the water, and had sent her along two or three knots an hour.
+They could see half-way down her courses, and Jack declared his belief
+that she was a frigate, but whether English or French he could not
+determine.
+
+Unless, however, they were to hoist their sail, they might pass very
+close to her without being discovered, and the course she was steering
+would take her somewhat to the eastward of them.
+
+They would have to settle the point as to whether she was a friend or
+foe, and in the former case whether it would be advisable to hoist their
+sail, and made every signal in their power to attract her attention, or
+to keep the sail lowered until she was at a distance from them.  Bill
+had not been convinced that Jack had seen a sail to the southward.
+
+"Whether or not I saw one before, there's one now," cried Jack, "and
+pretty near, too, and what's worse, it's a boat, so that they have oars,
+and will be coming up with us in spite of the calm."
+
+"They must have had a breeze to get thus far," remarked Bill.
+
+"Yes, but it has failed them now; see, they are lowering down the sail."
+As Jack spoke, a light patch of white like the wing of a wild-fowl was
+seen for a moment glancing above the water landward.
+
+"Yes, there's no doubt that was a sail, which must have come from the
+shore; but it is a question whether the Frenchmen will have the pluck to
+pull on in the hopes of finding us, or will turn back.  One thing is
+certain, that we had better try to keep ahead, when they will have
+farther to come if they still pursue us."
+
+Once more the boys got their oars out, and laboured away as
+energetically as before.  They every now and then, however, looked back
+to ascertain if the boat were coming after them.  Meantime a light
+breeze played occasionally over the water, but it was so light that it
+would not have helped them much, and they thought it wiser not to hoist
+their sail, as it would betray their position should a French boat
+really be in pursuit of them.
+
+The ship, which they supposed to be a frigate, was in in the meantime
+drawing nearer to them from the north-east.
+
+"I cannot help thinking that the boat is still coming after us," cried
+Jack.  "I fancy I caught sight of the gleam of the sun on the men's
+hats; if I were to swarm up the mast I should be more certain."
+
+"You will run the chance of capsizing the raft if you do," observed
+Bill.
+
+"I'll just go a little way up," retorted Jack; and he jumped on the
+chest, and hoisted himself three or four feet only up the mast, while
+Bill sat down on the deck to counterbalance his weight.
+
+"Yes, I was right," said Jack, coming down.  "I made out a boat, as sure
+as we are here, and a large one, too, or I should not have seen her so
+clearly.  She's a good way off still, so that it will be some time
+before she can get up with us.  The French fellows in her must take
+yonder ship to be a countryman, or they would not pull on so boldly."
+
+"They may think that they have time to pick us up and be off again
+before the ship can get near them," said Bill; "but whatever they think,
+we must try to disappoint them, so we'll pull away as long as we can
+stand, and then we'll row on our knees."
+
+The sun was by this time sinking towards the west; and should darkness
+come on, their chances of escape would be increased.  The wind had
+shifted slightly to the south-west, and should it freshen sufficiently
+to make it worth while hoisting the sail, they might stand away to the
+north-east.  It still, however, wanted two or three hours before it
+would be perfectly dark, while the boat would be up to them before that
+time.  After rowing for the greater part of an hour, Jack again took a
+look-out, and reported that he could distinctly see the boat.
+
+"So I suspect by this time can the people on board the ship," observed
+Bill, "and probably they can see us also; but the crew of the boat well
+know that with this light wind they can easily row away from the ship
+should she prove to be English."
+
+In a short time they could both see the boat when only standing up on
+the raft.  They had now too much reason to fear that, in spite of all
+their efforts, they should be overtaken.  Still, like brave boys, they
+pulled on, though their arms and backs were aching with their exertions.
+
+The Frenchmen, who must by this time have seen the raft, appeared
+determined to re-take them.
+
+Presently a report was heard, and a bullet flew skimming over the water,
+but dropped beneath the surface somewhere astern.
+
+Another and another followed.
+
+"Their shot won't hurt us as yet," observed Bill.  "They fancy that they
+can frighten us, but we'll show them that they are mistaken;" and he
+pulled on as steadily as he had before been doing.
+
+Jack, however, could not resist jumping up once more on the chest, and
+looking towards the ship.
+
+"Hurrah! there's a boat coming off from the ship!" he cried out.  "If
+she's English, she'll soon make the Frenchmen put about."
+
+Jack was right as to a boat coming from the ship, but the Frenchmen
+still pulled on.  Perhaps they did not see the boat, or if they did,
+thought that she also was French.
+
+Again and again the pursuers fired, the bullets now falling close to the
+raft.
+
+"A miss is as good as a mile," cried Bill, rowing on.
+
+But the French boat was evidently getting terribly near.
+
+If any tolerable marksman were on board, he could easily pick off the
+two occupants of the raft.  They knew that well enough, but they kept to
+their resolution of pulling on till the last.
+
+They were encouraged, too, by seeing the boat from the stranger making
+towards them.  Presently three or four bullets together flew close to
+their ears, and fell into the water ahead.
+
+"Pull on! pull on!" cried Bill; "the fellows fired to vent their spite.
+They are going to give up the chase."
+
+He looked round as he spoke, and, sure enough, the stern of the boat was
+seen.
+
+The Frenchmen were rowing back to the shore.
+
+The boat of the stranger, instead of steering, as she had been, towards
+the raft, was now seen directing her course after the French boat, the
+crew of which were evidently straining every nerve to escape.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Jack, standing up and waving his cap, "that's an English
+frigate."
+
+"No doubt about it," exclaimed Bill; "I can see her ensign blowing out;"
+and he could scarcely refrain from throwing up his cap, but remembered
+that it might chance to fall overboard if he did.
+
+Directly afterwards a gun was heard, fired by the frigate.
+
+It was a signal to recall the boat.
+
+She would have had a long pull before she could over take the Frenchmen.
+
+The signal was not to be disobeyed, and she was seen to pull round and
+steer for the raft.
+
+The boys eagerly watched her approach.
+
+She was soon up to them.
+
+"Hallo, my lads! where do you come from?" asked the officer, who was
+standing up in the stern-sheets.
+
+"We are running away from the Frenchmen, sir," answered Bill.
+
+"A curious craft you have chosen for the purpose," observed the officer.
+
+"It was the best we could get, sir," said Bill.  "We twice have managed
+to make our escape, and the first time were caught and carried back."
+
+"Well, we'll hear all about it by-and-by.  Come, jump on board.  I
+should like to tow your raft to the frigate, but we must not delay for
+that purpose," exclaimed the officer.
+
+Jack and Bill quickly tumbled into the boat, though, as soon as they
+were on board, they cast wistful glances at their raft.
+
+The officer ordered the men to give way, and steered the boat towards
+the frigate.  He now asked the lads how they came to be in France.
+
+Bill briefly described how the _Foxhound_ had blown up, and the way in
+which they had been taken on board a French fishing-vessel, and their
+various adventures on shore.
+
+"That's curious enough," observed the lieutenant, "for we have on board
+the frigate most of those who escaped."
+
+The officer, who was the third lieutenant of the frigate, had learned
+the greater part of their history by the time the boat got up to her.
+
+He and most of the crew quickly climbed on board, followed by the boys.
+
+The falls were hooked on, and the boat hoisted up.
+
+Whom should Jack and Bill see standing on the deck, and issuing his
+orders to the crew to "brace round the yards," but Mr Saltwell, the
+first lieutenant of their former ship.
+
+They stood for some minutes by themselves, for everybody was too much
+engaged to attend to them.  The frigate's head was now turned in the
+direction of the stranger they had seen to the eastward, towards which
+they observed that the glasses of several of the officers were directed.
+
+"Though she has not shown her colours, I feel positive that she's
+French," observed the captain to Mr Saltwell.
+
+"I hope that you are right, sir," was the answer; "but we shall scarcely
+get up to her before dark."
+
+"We shall get near enough to make the private signal," said the captain,
+"and if she does not answer it we shall know how to treat her when we do
+get up to her."
+
+All the sail the frigate could carry was set, and as the breeze had
+increased, she ran rapidly through the water.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+THE FRIGATE IN ACTION--BILL SHOWS THAT HE CAN BE OF USE.
+
+The stranger, which had apparently been beating down Channel, now put up
+her helm, and setting studden sails stood to the eastward before the
+wind.  She failed also to answer the private signal; no doubt,
+therefore, remained that she was French, and wished to avoid an action,
+though, as she appeared to be as large as the English frigate, if not
+larger, this was somewhat surprising.
+
+"Perhaps she has some consorts to the eastward, and wishes to lead us
+into their midst during the night," observed Mr Saltwell.
+
+"She will find that she's mistaken.  We will keep too bright a look-out
+to be so caught," said the captain.
+
+The first lieutenant, as he was walking forward, caught sight of Bill
+and Jack.
+
+"Why, lads, where do you come from?" he asked.
+
+As he spoke he recognised Bill.
+
+"Are you not the lad who gave notice of the plot of the American captain
+to capture our ship?" he asked.
+
+Bill acknowledged that such was the case.
+
+"I am truly glad that you have escaped.  I promised our late captain
+that I would keep an eye on you," he continued, "and I shall now have
+the opportunity.  I thought you, with the rest of our poor fellows, had
+been lost when our ship blew up."
+
+Bill briefly described their adventures, and the lieutenant seemed much
+interested.  He said he would have them at once entered on the ship's
+books, for as they were likely soon to be engaged with the enemy, it
+might be of importance to them.
+
+He accordingly sent for the purser, to whom he gave the proper
+directions.  Bill and Jack then made their way below.
+
+On passing the galley they saw a boy busily employed, assisting the
+cook's mate in cleaning pots and pans.  He looked up at them and
+started, letting drop the pot at which he was scrubbing.
+
+"What!  Bill!  Jack!  I thought you had gone to Davy Jones's locker," he
+exclaimed.  "Are you really yourselves?"
+
+"No doubt about it, Tom," answered Bill and in a few words they again
+told their adventures.
+
+Tom soon recovered from his astonishment.  He appeared somewhat ashamed
+of his present occupation.  He had got into a scrape, he acknowledged,
+and had been ordered to assist the cook's mate.
+
+"I wish you would tell him, Tom, that we are very hungry, as we have had
+a long pull, and that if he would give us something to eat we should be
+very much obliged to him.  If he's a good-natured fellow, I daresay he
+will."
+
+Tom undertook to plead for them with the cook himself, who just then put
+his head out of the galley.  The cook, without hesitation, on hearing
+their story, gave them each a basin of broth and a handful of biscuit.
+
+While they were eating they asked Tom to tell them how he had escaped.
+
+"I've no very clear notion about the matter," he answered; "I must have
+been in the water, for I found myself lying at the bottom of a boat wet
+to the skin, and more dead than alive.  There were a dozen or more of
+our fellows in her, and Mr Saltwell, our first lieutenant, who had been
+picked up, I supposed, as I had been.  They thought I was done for, and,
+as the boat was overloaded, they were about to heave me overboard, when
+I opened my eyes, and sang out, `Don't;' so they let me remain, and
+after some time pulled alongside a cutter, on board which we were taken
+and looked after below.  Shortly afterwards we went in chase of a French
+craft of the same rig as ours, but she got away, and we then steered for
+Plymouth.  We were at first taken on board the guardship, where we
+remained some time, and then I was transferred with others to this
+frigate, the _Thisbe_, of which, to my great satisfaction, I found that
+Mr Saltwell had been appointed first lieutenant.  Thinking that, as we
+had shared a common misfortune, he would stand my friend, I went up to
+him, and telling him that I was a gentleman's son, begged he would have
+me put on the quarter-deck.  He told me that if I did my duty I should
+have as good a chance as others; but here I am set to scrape potatoes
+and clean pots and pans.  It's a shame, a great shame, and I can't stand
+it."
+
+Bill and Jack had a tolerably correct notion why Tom was not better off,
+but they did not say so, as they did not wish to hurt his feelings, and
+were grateful to him for having obtained for them the broth and
+biscuits.
+
+They had scarcely finished their meal when the order came to extinguish
+the galley fire.
+
+A short time afterwards the drum beat to quarters, and every one was
+employed in getting the ship ready for action.
+
+Jack and Bill expected that they would be employed in their former
+occupation of powder-monkeys, though, having been awake all the previous
+night, and in active exertion the whole of the day, notwithstanding the
+expectation of a battle, they could with difficulty keep their eyes
+open.  They were going with the rest of the boys to the powder-magazine,
+when they heard their names called out, and the ship's corporal
+appearing, told them that the first lieutenant had directed that they
+should turn in below and take some sleep.
+
+A couple of hammocks were slung for them forward, and they very gladly
+obeyed the order.
+
+Bill made an effort to keep awake, that he might turn out again should
+the ship go into action, but in less than two minutes drowsiness
+overtook him, and he went fast asleep.
+
+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."
+
+"I hope not," said Tom; "only they say that the French ship is the
+bigger of the two."
+
+"What's the odds of that, provided we can work our guns twice as fast as
+they can?" observed Jack; "that's the way we licked the Frenchmen
+before, and, of course, we shall lick them again; but I say, Tom, what
+makes you look so melancholy?"
+
+"Do I?  Well, if you want to know, I was thinking of home, and wishing I
+had not run off to sea.  I've had a miserable life of it since I came on
+board this frigate.  It was my own fault that I did not go back when I
+was last on shore.  I had the chance, but was ashamed to show my face."
+
+"There's no use thinking about that sort of thing now," said Jack.  "We
+shall be fighting the Frenchmen in a few minutes, and the round and
+grape shot and bullets will be flying about our ears."
+
+"That's what I don't quite like the thoughts of," replied Tom.  "I hope
+neither you nor I will be hit, Jack."
+
+"Of course not," said Jack; "it wouldn't be pleasant, though we must do
+our duty, and trust to chance, or rather trust in Providence, like the
+rest."
+
+"I don't envy Bill up on deck there," remarked Tom.  "I wonder what the
+first lieutenant wants with him."
+
+"Perhaps he intends to turn him into a midshipman," suggested Jack.
+
+"Into a midshipman! a London street boy, who scarcely knows who his
+father was," ejaculated Tom.  "I should think he would have made me one
+before him."
+
+"The first lieutenant doesn't care a rap what he or his father was.  He
+remembers only the way Bill saved the ship from being taken by the
+American skipper, and he seemed highly pleased at our having escaped
+from France.  I tell you I shouldn't be at all surprised if Bill is
+placed on the quarter-deck," said Jack.
+
+Tom gave a grunt of dissatisfaction.  The conversation had a good
+effect, as far as he was concerned, as it made him forget the fears he
+had entertained about his personal safety.
+
+In the meantime Bill remained on deck watching what was going forward.
+He heard Captain Martin tell the first lieutenant that he intended to
+engage the enemy to leeward, in order to prevent her escape; but as the
+_Thisbe_ approached the French ship, the latter, suspecting his
+intention, so as to frustrate it, wore round on the starboard tack.
+
+After much skilful seamanship on both sides, Captain Martin, finding
+that he could not succeed, ranged up to windward of the enemy within
+pistol shot, both ships being on the larboard tack, two or three points
+off the wind.
+
+They now simultaneously opened their broadsides, the shot of the
+_Thisbe_ telling with considerable effect, while not a few of those of
+the enemy came on board in return, cutting up her rigging, and laying
+low three or four of her men.
+
+The French ship now passed under the stern of the _Thisbe_, firing her
+larboard broadside with great precision.  A second time she attempted to
+repeat the manoeuvre, but the crew of the _Thisbe_, having quickly rove
+new braces, her sails were thrown aback, and gathering sternway, her
+starboard quarter took the larboard bow of the French frigate.
+
+The French on this made several attempts to board, but the marines, who
+were drawn up on deck, opened so warm a fire that they were driven back
+with considerable loss.
+
+The _Thisbe_ had now her enemy fast to her quarter.  In order to keep
+her there, Captain Martin and some of his crew endeavoured to lash her
+bowsprit to his mizenmast; while others were engaged in bringing a gun
+to bear, out of a port which the carpenters quickly cut through the
+stern windows and quarter gallery.
+
+While they were thus engaged, the enemy kept up a hot fire on them,
+several men being killed and wounded; but the gun was at length brought
+into position.
+
+"Now fire, my lads!" cried the second lieutenant, who was superintending
+the operation.
+
+After the first, discharge, no sooner had the smoke cleared away, than
+full twenty Frenchmen were seen stretched on the deck.
+
+Bill had been standing near the first lieutenant.  A marine had just
+loaded his musket, but was knocked over before he had time to fire it.
+Bill at that moment saw a French seaman run along the bowsprit with a
+musket in his hand.  Bill, springing forward, seized that of the marine,
+and, as he did so, he observed the Frenchman taking aim at the head of
+Mr Saltwell, whose eyes were turned in a different direction.
+
+There was not a moment for deliberation.  Without ceremony pushing the
+lieutenant aside, he fired at the Frenchman, who, as he did so,
+discharged his musket, but immediately fell overboard, the ball tearing
+away the rim of Mr Saltwell's hat, but without hurting him.
+
+The first lieutenant, turning round, perceived the way by which his life
+had been saved.
+
+"Thank you, my lad," he said, "I see how you did it, and I'll not forget
+the service you have rendered me."
+
+There was no time just then for saying more, for a party of Frenchmen
+were attempting to fire a carronade on their forecastle.  Before they
+could succeed, the marines had picked off the greater number.  Others
+took their places, but every man of them was treated in the same manner.
+At last the attempt to fire the gun was abandoned.
+
+The French ship now getting a breeze, began to forge ahead.  This
+enabled the _Thisbe's_ crew to bring their aftermost gun on the
+starboard side to bear, the first discharge from which cut away the
+gammoning of the French frigate's bowsprit.
+
+The two ships now separated, but were soon again abreast of each other
+exchanging broadsides; but so rapidly did the English crew work their
+guns that they managed to fire three to the Frenchman's two.
+
+A loud cheer burst from their throats as they saw the enemy's
+maintopmast go over the side.  The _Thisbe_ now forged ahead clear of
+her adversary, and the breeze dying away, the firing ceased on both
+sides.  Still the Frenchmen kept their colours flying.
+
+The English crew were busily employed in knotting and splicing the
+rigging which had been cut away, and repairing other damages.
+
+"I hope they've had enough of it, and that the fighting is over,"
+exclaimed Tom.
+
+"Not so sure of that," said Jack.  "The French take a good deal of
+drubbing, and don't always know when they are beaten."
+
+Tom felt, at all events, that he had had enough of it, as he looked
+along the deck and saw numbers of the men who had been slightly hurt
+binding up each other's wounds.  Several lay stiff and stark, whose
+bodies were dragged on one side, while not a few, severely hurt, had
+been carried below to the cockpit, where the surgeon and his mates had
+ample employment.
+
+Among the killed was the second lieutenant, a master's mate, and two
+young midshipmen; altogether of the two hundred and fifty men who that
+morning were in health and strength, forty were either killed outright
+or were severely wounded.
+
+Just then, however, the survivors were too much occupied to think about
+the matter; every man and boy was wanted to get the ship to rights, and
+all were eagerly looking out for a breeze that they might again attack
+the enemy.  Bill was as eager as any one for the fight.  He felt that he
+was somebody, as he could not help reflecting that he had done good
+service in saving the life of the first lieutenant, though he did not
+exactly expect any reward in consequence.  It seemed to him that he had
+grown suddenly from a powder monkey into a man.  Still the calm
+continued, and the two ships lay with their sails against the masts, the
+water shining like a polished mirror.
+
+The calm was to the advantage of the French, who had thus longer time to
+repair their damages.  The English were soon ready to renew the action.
+
+What, however, might not happen in the meantime?
+
+Both the captain and Mr Saltwell thought it possible that the French
+squadron might be to the eastward, and should the firing have been
+heard, and a breeze spring up from that direction, which it was very
+likely to do, the Frenchmen in overwhelming force might be down upon
+them.
+
+The captain walked the deck, looking anxiously out in every direction
+for signs of a breeze.  Occasionally reports were brought to him of the
+way the wounded men were getting on.  The surgeons had as much work as
+they could get through, cutting off arms and legs, setting broken limbs,
+and binding up flesh wounds.  Such are the horrors of war!  How many
+might be added ere long to the number of the killed and wounded!
+
+It was nearly noon when the captain exclaimed, "Here comes a breeze!
+Trim sails, my lads!"  The men flew to the braces.  The canvas blew out,
+and the frigate began slowly to move towards her antagonist.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+THE "THISBE" VICTORIOUS--AN ENEMY'S SQUADRON HEAVES IN SIGHT.
+
+The crew of the _Thisbe_ stood at their guns, ready to open fire at the
+word of command.  Several who had, at the commencement of the action,
+been among them, were missing; and though the survivors mourned their
+loss, that was not the time either to think or talk about them.  Not a
+word, indeed, was spoken fore and aft; not even the usual jokes passed
+between the men.  The Frenchman showed no inclination to avoid the
+combat.  He could not have got away even had he wished, for his
+foretopmast was gone, and he had not fully repaired the other damages he
+had received aloft.
+
+Nearer and nearer the _Thisbe_ drew to the enemy, still the looked-for
+word of command did not come.  The captain resolved to wait till he got
+close up to her.  The French, also, for some time refrained from firing,
+though the _Thisbe_ was within range of their guns.  They were the first
+to lose patience, or perhaps they thought that they could knock away the
+spars and rigging of their antagonist, and thus be able to make their
+escape.
+
+The _Thisbe_, however, was coming up on their larboard quarter.  Their
+guns which they could bring to bear were trained high for the purpose
+mentioned.  The shot came whistling about her masts and rigging; but
+though some of her sails were shot through, and a few ropes cut away, no
+material damage was received.  The breeze at that instant freshened, and
+the _Thisbe_ glided rapidly on.
+
+"Give it them, my lads!" cried the captain, as the helm being put to
+starboard the whole of the _Thisbe's_ broadside was brought to bear with
+terrible effect on the enemy.
+
+The Frenchman again fired.  The _Thisbe's_ guns were quickly run in and
+reloaded.  The breeze at that instant blew aside the smoke, and as it
+did so the enemy's foremast was seen to fall with a crash overboard.
+
+Loud cheers rang forth from the decks of the _Thisbe_.  Again her
+broadside was fired, but no return came.  The next instant, through the
+smoke, the Frenchman's ensign was seen in the act of being lowered, just
+in time to save them from another broadside.
+
+The British crew had cheered lustily when they saw the foremast fall.
+They now redoubled their shouts, turning round and shaking each other
+heartily by the hand; some throwing up their caps, and others, mostly
+the Irishmen of the crew, leaping and dancing with delight.
+
+Two of the _Thisbe's_ boats being uninjured, they were lowered; and the
+third lieutenant, with a master's mate and a party of seamen, was sent
+on board to take possession of the prize.
+
+As they were about to shove off, Mr Saltwell inquired whether any one
+could speak French.
+
+"I can, sir," said Bill, touching his hat.
+
+"Then go and assist Mr Sterling; you will be of much use," said the
+first lieutenant.
+
+Bill, who had been longing to visit the prize, obeyed with no small
+satisfaction.
+
+As they reached her deck, an officer advanced with his sword in his
+hand, and presented it to Mr Sterling, who, receiving it, handed it to
+Bill.
+
+The French officer announced that he was the second lieutenant of the
+_Diana_ frigate, which it was his misfortune now to yield into the
+possession of her British conquerors.
+
+Mr Sterling bowed in return.
+
+"Tell him, Rayner," he said, "that we acknowledge how bravely he and his
+countrymen have fought their ship, and that though they have lost her,
+they have not lost their honour."
+
+The French lieutenant looked highly gratified at this remark when Bill
+interpreted it, and desired him to express his obligation to the English
+lieutenant.
+
+The captain and first lieutenant had been killed, as were no less than
+thirty of the crew, including other officers, while fifty were wounded.
+
+The deck, indeed, presented a dreadful scene--strewed in every direction
+with corpses, while many poor fellows were so fearfully injured that
+their shipmates had been unwilling to move them.
+
+The other officers presented their swords, while the seamen unbuckled
+their cutlasses, and the marines piled their arms.  Many wry faces were
+made, though most of the Frenchmen merely shrugged their shoulders,
+observing that what had happened to them was the fortune of war.  Bill
+made himself very useful in communicating with the French officers and
+crew.
+
+One of the _Diana's_ boats had escaped injury, and she, being lowered,
+assisted the other boats in carrying the prisoners on board the
+_Thisbe_.  They far outnumbered the English, and much vigilance was
+required to keep them in order.
+
+The prize crew sent on board the _Diana_ set to work, under the command
+of Mr Sterling, to stop the shot-holes in her sides, and to repair her
+other more serious damages.  A jury-mast was rigged forward, to supply
+the place of the foremast carried away.  In the meantime, a hawser being
+conveyed on board the _Thisbe_, the prize was taken in tow, and sail was
+made for Plymouth.
+
+It was of the greatest importance to get away from the French coast
+without delay, for a northerly wind might spring up and drive the two
+ships upon it; or if, as Captain Martin suspected, a French squadron was
+in the neighbourhood, the sound of the firing might have reached them,
+and they would very probably come up to ascertain what had taken place,
+when the prize would be recaptured, and the _Thisbe_ herself might find
+it very difficult to escape.
+
+Everybody on board had, therefore, ample work to do; besides which the
+prisoners in both ships had to be watched.  Several had been allowed to
+remain on board the prize to assist the surgeons in attending to the
+wounded men.  An eye had also to be kept on them.
+
+Mr Saltwell sent for Bill, who had returned to the _Thisbe_.
+
+"I remember well how you behaved on board the _Foxhound_, and I want you
+to keep a watch on the prisoners, and let me know if you hear or see
+anything suspicious.  They will probably remain quiet enough, as they
+must know that they would have very little chance of success should they
+attempt to rise upon us.  At the same time it is better to be on the
+safe side, and not to trust them too much."
+
+"They have heard me talking French to the officers, and will be careful
+what they say when they see me near them," answered Bill; "but there's
+my messmate, Jack Peek, who was in France with me, and knows their
+`lingo' as well as I do; and as they have not heard him talking, they'll
+not suspect him; and if you will allow me, sir, I will tell him to go
+among them, and he'll soon find out if they have any thoughts of
+mischief."
+
+Mr Saltwell approved of Bill's proposal, and gave him leave to employ
+Jack as he suggested.
+
+Bill, going below, soon found out his messmate.
+
+Jack was well pleased at the confidence placed in him, and promised to
+keep his eyes and ears well open.
+
+There was no time for conversation just then, for every man in the ship
+was busy, and the boys were wanted to assist them.
+
+The frigate and her prize had made some way to the northward before
+night came on.  A bright look-out was kept for any enemy which might
+heave in sight; but when darkness gradually stole over the ocean, none
+had appeared.
+
+During that night none of the English officers or men turned in.  The
+most tired snatched a few moments of sleep at intervals as best they
+could when off watch.
+
+The Frenchmen were allowed to lie down on deck between the guns, with
+sentries placed over them.  It was very evident that, had they chosen to
+rise, they might have overpowered the sentries at the cost of a few of
+their own lives.  Fortunately none of them liked to run the risk of
+being shot, and remained quiet.
+
+The wind was light, and the _Thisbe_ and her prize made but slow
+progress.
+
+The captain anxiously waited the return of morning.
+
+At early dawn look-outs were sent aloft to ascertain if any vessels were
+in sight.  They reported three to the south-east, and one to the
+westward; but what they were it was impossible at that distance to say,
+as their loftier sails could but indistinctly be seen rising above the
+horizon.
+
+The _Thisbe_ had already as much sail set as she could carry, but
+Lieutenant Sterling was making an effort to get up a maintopmast on
+board the prize.
+
+When Jack and Bill met at breakfast, Jack reported that he had been
+frequently among the prisoners, but had failed to hear anything which
+showed that they had the slightest thoughts of attempting to regain
+their liberty.
+
+"What would you know about the matter even if they had been talking
+treason?" observed Tom.  "I doubt if either of you fellows know much
+about French."
+
+"As to that," said Bill, "we managed to talk to Frenchmen, and to
+understand what they said to us.  That, at least, shows that we do know
+something about French; not that I wish to boast, only I think I should
+do much better if I could get hold of some French books."
+
+Tom laughed.  "Oh!  I dare say you are going to become a great scholar,
+and to beat us all," he observed, with a sneer.  "Jack was even
+declaring that you were likely to be placed on the quarter-deck.  That
+would be a good joke."
+
+"It would be a good reality for me, though I don't think it's what is
+very likely to happen," answered Bill, without getting at all angry.
+
+"Nor do I," said Tom, in the same tone as before.  "Just fancy a chap
+like you turned into an officer.  You can jabber a few words of French,
+and may have picked up a smattering of navigation on board the
+_Foxhound_, though I've a notion you must pretty well have forgotten all
+you knew by this time, and you may be fond of books, but all that won't
+turn a fellow who has come out of the gutter, as one may say, into a
+gentleman, as I suppose those on the quarter-deck call themselves."
+
+"And what do you call them?" exclaimed Jack, not liking to hear such
+remarks made to Bill.  "I wonder you dare to speak in that way."
+
+"I call myself the son of a gentleman, and I'm thinking when I get into
+port of writing to my father and asking him to have me placed on the
+quarter-deck."
+
+"I wonder you didn't do that before you ran away from home," said Jack.
+"They'll have forgotten all about you by this time, and maybe, if you do
+manage to write a letter, your father won't believe that it comes from
+you."
+
+"Let him alone, Jack," said Bill; "I don't mind what he says about me.
+If his father gets him made a midshipman, I shall be as glad as any
+one."
+
+"Thank you," said Tom; "I flatter myself I shall know how to strut about
+the quarter-deck and order the men here and there as well as the rest of
+them."
+
+Just then a voice was heard shouting, "Tom Fletcher, the cook wants you
+in the galley.  Be smart, now, you've been long enough at breakfast."
+
+Tom, bolting his last piece of biscuit, hurried away, as he had no fancy
+for the rope's-ending which would have been bestowed upon him had he
+delayed obeying the summons.
+
+The mess-tins were stowed away, and the watch hastened on deck.  The
+wind by this time had somewhat freshened, and the frigate and her prize
+were making better progress than before.  The strangers, however, which
+had appeared in sight in the morning were considerably nearer.  A fourth
+was now seen beyond the three which had been made out to the eastward.
+The ship to the westward which was considerably farther off than the
+others, was evidently a large vessel, and the captain declared his
+belief that she was a line-of-battle ship, but whether English or
+French, it was impossible to decide.  He hoped, as did everybody on
+board, that she was English, for should she prove to be French, as
+undoubtedly were the vessels to the eastward, the _Thisbe_ would lose
+her hard-won prize, even though she might manage to escape herself.
+Still, Captain Martin was not a man to give up hope while there was a
+chance of escape.
+
+The _Thisbe_, followed by her prize, kept on her course with every
+stitch of canvas she could carry set.
+
+"I'm afraid if we don't outrun those fellows there, we shall get boxed
+up again by the Frenchmen," observed Jack, pointing to the approaching
+ships.
+
+"If we do we must manage to get out somehow or other, as we did before,"
+answered Bill; "but even if they do come up with us, that's no reason
+why we should be taken.  We must try and beat them off, and the captain
+and Mr Saltwell are the men to do it.  They are only four to our two
+ships, for the lieutenant in charge of the prize will fight his guns as
+well as we do ours."
+
+"But what do you say to that big ship coming up Channel out there?"
+asked Tom.  "We shall be made mincemeat of if she gets up to us, for I
+heard the boatswain's mate say that she's a seventy-four at least, and
+may be an eighty-gun ship, or still larger."
+
+"She hasn't come up with us yet," answered Bill.  "We shall have time to
+beat off the others and stand away to the northward before she gets us
+within range of her guns.  Perhaps, too, the wind will shift to the
+eastward, and throw her to leeward.  We shall then be well in with
+Plymouth by the time she can manage to beat up to us.  We are not going
+to give in while the tight little frigate keeps above water."
+
+Bill expressed the sentiments of most of the crew.  Still, the odds were
+greatly against the _Thisbe_ and _Diana_.  The latter had but forty
+hands on board to work the guns and manage the sails, while the crew of
+the _Thisbe_ was thus far diminished, besides which they had to look
+after their prisoners.
+
+The two leading ships of the enemy had been made out to be frigates, as
+it was thought probable were their consorts astern; and even though they
+might fail to capture the _Thisbe_, they might knock away her masts and
+spars, and so maul her that she would be compelled to succumb to the
+line-of-battle ship coming up from the westward.
+
+Not, however, by his manner, or anything he said, did the captain show
+the least apprehension of such a result.  The crew were at their
+stations, ready to shorten sail should the breeze freshening render it
+necessary.  The men joked and laughed as usual, as ready for action as
+if they were only expecting one opponent of equal size.
+
+The morning wore on, the hands were piped down to dinner, the prospect
+of hot work not at all damping their appetites, though perhaps they got
+through their meal rather faster than was their wont; when they again
+hurried on deck to see how things were going on.  The two French
+frigates were approaching.  The headmost in a short time fired a
+bowchaser, but the shot fell short.  It served, however, as a signal to
+prepare for action.  Once more the guns were cast loose, and their crews
+stood ready to fire as soon as they received the looked-for word of
+command.
+
+A few of the French prisoners who had been allowed to remain on deck
+were now ordered below.  They went willingly enough, exhibiting in their
+countenances the satisfaction they felt at the expectation of being soon
+restored to liberty.  They were, of course, narrowly watched, and well
+knew that they would be pretty severely dealt with should they show any
+signs of insubordination.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+THE "THISBE'S" NARROW ESCAPE--TOM HOPES TO BE MADE A MIDSHIPMAN.
+
+Half an hour or more passed, when again the leading French frigate
+fired, the shot falling close to the counter of the _Diana_, which by
+this time, having got up a fresh maintopmast, was able to make more
+sail.
+
+Captain Martin now ordered Lieutenant Sterling to cast off the tow rope
+and to stand on ahead of him, while, to allow the _Diana_ to do so, he
+clewed up the _Thisbe's_ topsails.
+
+"Make the best of your way to Plymouth," he shouted, as the _Diana_
+passed the _Thisbe_; "we'll keep these two fellows in play, and shall, I
+hope, be soon after you."
+
+As soon as the prize had got some distance ahead, Captain Martin, who
+had been watching the two frigates coming up on the starboard quarter,
+ordered the _Thisbe's_ helm to be put to port; at the same moment, her
+starboard broadside being fired, the shot raked the two Frenchmen fore
+and aft.  The helm was then immediately put over, and the frigate coming
+up on the other tack, her larboard broadside was poured into her
+antagonists.  The shot told with considerable effect.  The foretopmast
+of the leading frigate was shot away, and the mizenmast of the one
+following was seen to go by the board.  This, however, did not much
+alter their rate of sailing, as, the wind being aft, all the canvas they
+required continued set.  They also opened their fire, and their shot
+came crashing on board the _Thisbe_, killing and wounding two or three
+men, but not doing any material damage to her spars or rigging.  She
+having shortened sail, her antagonists were compelled to do the same;
+and while they poured their broadsides into her, she returned them as
+rapidly as the crew could run the guns in and out.
+
+Captain Martin's great object was to keep them engaged, and, if
+possible, to knock away their masts, so as to enable the _Diana_ to
+escape, for although he might hope to get off himself, he could not
+expect to capture either of the enemy's ships.
+
+The _Thisbe_ had been several times hulled, and her sails were already
+completely riddled, while many more of her crew had fallen.
+
+"It is going hard with us, I fear," said Jack to Tom, who was seated
+next him on his powder tub.  "There's well-nigh a score of poor fellows
+killed or wounded within the last half-hour.  It may be the lot of one
+of us before long."
+
+"Oh, dear!  I hope not," cried Tom.  "I wish the skipper would try and
+get away instead of fighting the Frenchmen.  Two to one is fearful odds
+against us, and we shall have the two other ships blazing away at our
+heads before long."
+
+"We haven't much to fear from them," said Jack.  "I have just heard
+they're corvettes, and they won't be up to us until we've given the
+other two a drubbing, and have made sail again to the northward."
+
+The two corvettes were, however, likely to prove no despicable
+opponents, and Captain Martin was only watching until he had knocked
+away the masts or spars of one or both of the frigates, to make sail and
+escape, for it would have been madness to have continued the fight
+longer than was necessary to accomplish that object.
+
+The Frenchmen, however, fought bravely, and evidently did not intend to
+let him get off if they could help it.  Each had just fired another
+broadside into the _Thisbe_, when they were seen to haul their wind, the
+two ships coming up astern doing the same.  The reason of this was
+evident: the line-of-battle ship to the westward, now approaching under
+a pressure of sail, had hoisted British colours, and any longer delay
+would have enabled her quickly to capture one or both of them.  The
+brave crew of the _Thisbe_ expressed their satisfaction by giving a loud
+cheer, which was joined in even by many of the wounded.
+
+Captain Martin had accomplished his object; he had secured the safety of
+his prize, and his crew, now swarming aloft, set to work rapidly to knot
+and splice the rigging which had been shot away.
+
+As soon as this had been accomplished sufficiently to make sail, the
+_Thisbe_, brought to the wind, stood after the flying enemy, firing her
+bow chasers as she did so; but it was soon seen that she had little
+chance of coming up with them.  Still her captain persevered; but, with
+both masts and spars wounded, it was impossible to carry as much sail as
+would otherwise have been done.  Consequently, before long the
+line-of-battle ship, which made the signal _Terrible_, seventy-four,
+overtook her.
+
+A cheer rose from the deck of the big ship, which came gliding slowly
+by.  Her captain hailed, "Well done, Martin!"
+
+The pursuit was continued for some time, but night was approaching, and
+the coast of France was not far off.  The seventy-four therefore threw
+out the signal to bear up and a course was shaped for Plymouth.
+
+A sharp look-out was kept during the night for the _Diana_.  Soon after
+sunrise she was seen steering for Plymouth, into which harbour Captain
+Martin and his gallant crew had the satisfaction of conducting her the
+following day.  Although it was a day of triumph to the surviving crew,
+it was one of mourning to many who had lost relatives and friends.  The
+dead were carried on shore to be buried, the wounded conveyed to
+hospitals, the Frenchmen were landed and marched off under an escort of
+marines to the prisons prepared for them, and press-gangs were soon busy
+at work to obtain fresh hands to supply the places of those who had
+fallen, although many prime seamen volunteered to serve on board a
+frigate which had already won a name for herself.
+
+Tom Fletcher, as soon as the ship got into harbour, managed to procure a
+pen and some ink and paper, and indited a letter to his father.  It was
+not over-well written, but he contrived to make it pretty clearly
+express that he was serving on board H.M.S.  _Thisbe_, and that having
+already seen a great deal of service, he felt sure that if his father
+would apply to the Admiralty and make him an allowance of thirty or
+forty pounds a year, he should be placed on the quarter-deck, and in due
+course of time become an admiral.
+
+"We are sure to make lots of prize-money," he added; "and if I were a
+midshipman now, I should be receiving a hundred pounds or more, so that
+you may be sure, father, that I will pay it all back with interest."
+
+"Father likes interest," he observed to Bill, who was sitting by him at
+the time, and helping him in his somewhat unaccustomed task; "that'll
+make him more ready to do what I want, though whether he'll ever get the
+money is neither here nor there."
+
+"But if you promise to pay him, you are bound to do so," observed Bill.
+"You need not have made the promise, then you could have waited to know
+whether he required interest."
+
+"Well, I've written it, and can't scratch it out now," said Tom.  "It
+will come to the same thing in the end."
+
+Bill had some doubts whether Tom's father would make the allowance Tom
+asked for; but if he were a rich man, as Tom asserted, he might do so,
+and therefore he said nothing.
+
+The letter, after being folded several times and creased all over, was
+at length closed, sealed, and addressed, by which time it had assumed a
+somewhat grimy appearance.  Tom got the cook's mate, who was going on
+shore, to post his letter, having told him that he expected to receive a
+good sum of money by return, and promising him a part of the proceeds.
+Bill and Jack looked forward to the reply with almost as much interest
+as Tom himself, neither of them feeling that they should be at all
+jealous, should it produce the satisfactory result he anticipated.
+
+Meantime, every possible exertion was made to get the ship ready for
+sea.  Mr Saltwell was very busy superintending all the operations.
+Bill, however, found that he was not forgotten, from a kind word or two
+which on several occasions the first lieutenant bestowed upon him.  As
+Tom was not aware of this, he amused himself by telling Bill that Mr
+Saltwell would not trouble himself more about him--that he must be
+content to remain a powder monkey until he got big enough to be rated as
+an ordinary seaman.
+
+"Better than being cook's boy," cried Jack, who could never stand
+hearing Bill sneered at.  "He's a precious deal more likely to be made a
+midshipman than you are, even though your father is a rich man and rides
+in his carriage, as you say."
+
+Tom retorted, and Jack looked as if he was much inclined to knock him
+over, when the quarrel was cut short by the appearance of the cook's
+mate, who dragged off Tom to help him clean the galley and scrub the
+pots and pans.
+
+Day after day went by.  The frigate was reported ready for sea, and her
+complement of men having been filled up, she only waited for her captain
+to come on board to continue her cruise.
+
+Still Tom had received no reply from his father.  "Perhaps he or the
+Admiralty may have written to the captain, and when he comes aboard I
+shall be placed in my proper position," he observed in confidence to
+Bill.
+
+"I hope so, but I'm afraid there will be but little time for you to get
+a proper uniform and an outfit," was the answer.
+
+"I'm not much afraid of that; the tailors won't take long in rigging me
+out," answered Tom.
+
+Soon after this the captain came on board, and Tom, greatly to his
+disappointment, was not sent for.  Just, however, as the ship was going
+out into the Sound, the mail-bag arrived, and a letter addressed,
+"Thomas Fletcher, H.M.S.  _Thisbe_," was handed him.  He eagerly broke
+the seal.  As he was no great hand at reading writing, he was obliged to
+ask Bill to assist him in deciphering the contents.  He had, however, to
+rub his eyes several times before he could make them out, even with his
+messmate's help.
+
+"It's not from father at all," he observed, after looking at the paper
+all over.  "S.  Fletcher must be my biggest brother, and he always gave
+me more kicks than ha'pence."
+
+The letter began:--
+
+"Dear Tom,--Our father received yours of the third instant, as the first
+intimation of your being alive since your unaccountable disappearance.
+You have caused us by your wicked proceeding no end of grief and
+trouble, and, as far as we can make out by your wretchedly written
+epistle, you do not seem to be at all ashamed of yourself, or sorry for
+what you have done; and our father bids me to say, that as you have made
+your bed, you must lie in it.  As to making you an allowance of thirty
+or forty pounds a year, and getting you placed on the quarter-deck, the
+notion is too ridiculous to be entertained.  I must tell you, too, our
+father has failed, smashed up completely, won't pay sixpence in the
+pound.  As we find it a hard matter to live, he is not likely to make
+you an allowance of thirty pounds, or thirty pence a year, or to trouble
+himself by going to the Admiralty with the certainty of being sent away
+with a flea in his ear; so you see, Tom, you must just grin and bear it.
+If you don't get killed, I would advise you--should you ever wish to
+come home--to make your appearance with your pockets full of the
+prize-money you talk of, and you will then perhaps receive a welcome,
+and be well entertained as long as it lasts by the rest of the family,
+as also by--
+
+"Your affectionate brother--
+
+"S.  Fletcher.
+
+"P.S.  Until then I would advise you not to show your nose in this
+neighbourhood."
+
+"He always was an ill-natured fellow, was my brother Sam," exclaimed
+Tom, not seeming concerned at the news of his father's ruin, while,
+crumpling up the letter, he thrust it into his pocket.  "I feel inclined
+to hang myself or jump overboard."
+
+"Don't think of doing anything so bad," said Bill.  "You are no worse
+off than you were before.  All you've got to do is to attend to your
+duty, and try to please those above you."
+
+"The cook and the cook's mate," growled poor Tom.  "It isn't a pleasant
+task to have to scrub saucepans and clean out the galley."
+
+"But it is your duty, and while you have to do it it would be best to
+try and do it as well as you can," observed Bill.  "Neither the cook nor
+the cook's mate are bad fellows, and you will gain their good-will by
+showing a pleasant temper, and working as hard as you can."
+
+"All very well for you to preach," said Tom; "but there's no help for
+it, I suppose, and so I must make the best of my hard lot."
+
+"That's just what I'm advising," said Bill; though he did not add, "You
+must remember you brought it upon yourself by running away from home."
+
+The boatswain's pipe summoned all hands on deck to make sail, and the
+frigate, standing down the Sound, at once put to sea.
+
+A bright look-out was kept for enemies; all hands, from the captain
+downwards, being eager to secure another prize, even though they might
+have to fight a tough battle to win her.  The captain's orders were to
+capture, sink, burn, destroy, or drive on shore any of the enemy's
+vessels he could come up with.  With this object in view the _Thisbe_
+continued to cruise, now down the Channel, now up again, keeping as much
+as possible in sight of the French coast.  She had been some time at
+sea, however, without having made any prizes; for although she had
+chased several vessels, they, having espied her in time, had managed to
+escape by running close in shore, under strong batteries, or getting up
+harbours where they could not be followed.  At last one morning, as the
+frigate had just made the land, from which she had been standing off
+during the night, a sail was seen inside of her--that is, between her
+and the French coast, steering to the eastward, apparently bound down
+Channel.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+A CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION--BILL DISCOVERS AN OLD FRIEND.
+
+The wind being very light, every stitch of canvas the _Thisbe_ could
+carry was packed on her, and her course altered so as to cut off the
+stranger.  As the sun rose, and its beams lighted up the white canvas of
+the latter, she was pronounced to be a full-rigged ship, either a
+man-of-war or privateer, or a large merchantman, but at the distance she
+was off it was difficult to determine whether she was a frigate or a
+flush-decked vessel.  Captain Martin hoped that she would prove to be a
+frigate, and an antagonist worthy of engaging.  She must have seen the
+_Thisbe_ approaching, but either took her for a friend or believed that
+she was well able to cope with her, as she did not alter her course.
+Captain Martin calculated that the _Thisbe_ would be up with the
+stranger before noon.  Every telescope on board was directed towards
+her.  Bill wished that he had one, that he might form an opinion as to
+what she was.  He heard some officers talking, and they declared that
+she was undoubtedly French, and was either a large man-of-war corvette,
+or a privateer.  If such were the case, and the _Thisbe_ could get up to
+her, she would be captured to a certainty, though she would probably
+fight, and try to knock away some of the _Thisbe's_ spars, so as to
+effect her escape.  The wind, which had hitherto been blowing from the
+southward and south, suddenly shifted to the east.  As soon as the
+stranger felt it, she was seen to haul her tacks on board, brace up her
+yards, and stand away towards the land.
+
+"She's going to run on shore," exclaimed Jack, who had been watching her
+as eagerly as any one, when his duty would allow him to take a look-out.
+
+"More likely she knows of a harbour or battery in there, and is running
+in for shelter," answered Bill.
+
+"We shan't be able to take her then," said Jack.  "I was making sure we
+should have her as our prize."
+
+"I won't say we shan't take her, notwithstanding," observed Bill.
+"Perhaps we shall fight the battery and her too, if she brings up under
+one.  Or if she runs into a harbour, the boats may be sent in after her
+to bring her out."
+
+As soon as the stranger was seen standing to the southward, the _Thisbe_
+also hauled up to continue the pursuit, but the chase was still beyond
+the reach of her guns.
+
+"We shan't catch her after all," said Jack, who had taken another look
+at the stranger some time after she had altered her course.
+
+"I don't see that we have not still a chance of coming up with her,"
+answered Bill.  "The captain thinks so, or he would not be keeping after
+her.  Perhaps she may be becalmed closer in with the land, or we may
+draw near enough to knock away her masts.  We have gained a mile on her
+during the last hour.  I would always try to succeed while a single
+chance remains, and I would never knock under to an enemy while I had a
+stick standing, or a plank beneath my feet."
+
+Still, notwithstanding Bill's sanguine hopes of success, as the day wore
+on there seemed every probability that the French ship would make good
+her escape.  It was now seen that she was steering for a harbour, the
+mouth of which could be distinguished from the deck of the _Thisbe_,
+with a battery on one side.
+
+"Our bow chasers will reach her, Mr Saltwell," cried the captain, at
+length.
+
+The order to fire was eagerly obeyed.  The frigate, however, had to yaw
+for the purpose.  One of the shot was seen to go right through the sails
+of the chase, but the other fell on one side.
+
+The guns were quickly reloaded, and were fired immediately the ship was
+kept away sufficiently for the purpose.  Again one of the shot took
+effect, but what damage was done it was impossible to say, and the chase
+stood on as before.
+
+The manoeuvre was repeated several times, causing the frigate to lose
+ground; but a fortunate shot would have enabled her quickly to regain
+it.  Though several of the _Thisbe's_ shot took effect, the chase
+continued her course, firing in return from a gun run out astern; but
+none of the shot struck her pursuer.  At last, however, the chase ran
+past the battery, which shortly afterwards opened fire.  Captain Martin
+returned it with such effect that two of the guns were silenced, when
+the frigate's head was put off shore, and she stood away to avoid the
+risk of being becalmed should the wind fall, as was very likely, towards
+evening.
+
+"I say, Bill, I really believe that's the very place we got away from on
+our raft," said Jack.
+
+"No doubt about it," answered Bill.  "I remember the look of the land to
+the eastward, and I feel pretty sure I could find my way up the
+harbour."
+
+Bill had scarcely said this when he heard his name called, and he was
+told to go to the first lieutenant.
+
+"Do you recollect anything about the harbour up there?" asked Mr
+Saltwell.
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Bill.  "I remember it was the one from which Peek
+and I got off, and I was thinking I could make my way up it at night, if
+I had to do so."
+
+"You will have an opportunity to-night, I hope, of showing your
+knowledge.  The captain intends to send up the boats to try and cut out
+the vessel we chased into the harbour.  I am to command the expedition,
+and I will take you with me."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Bill, touching his hat.  "I feel pretty sure that
+I know my way up to the landing-place, and I do not suppose that a ship
+the size of the chase could get up higher."
+
+"You can go forward now, and be ready to accompany me when you are
+summoned," said Mr Saltwell.
+
+Bill felt highly gratified by the confidence placed in him, and was
+thankful that he had so thoroughly observed the harbour before he and
+Jack had made their escape.  The frigate, meantime, was standing out to
+sea, so that by the time the sun went down she could not be perceived
+from the shore.  She was then hove-to, and preparations were made for
+the intended expedition.
+
+Lieutenant Saltwell went in the barge, the third lieutenant in the
+launch, and the lieutenant of marines, with the senior mate, in the
+cutter, the oars of all the boats being muffled, so that no sound would
+betray their approach to the enemy.
+
+The frigate then again stood in, taking care to show no lights, when in
+perfect silence the boats shoved off, carrying among them about fifty
+officers and men.  Lieutenant Saltwell called Bill aft to take a seat by
+his side.  Before leaving the frigate, the captain had directed the
+first lieutenant to return should he find the ship so moored as to
+render it impossible to bring her out.  Bill, however, told him that he
+had observed a vessel at anchor some way below the landing-place, and
+that he supposed no large craft could get up higher on account of the
+shallowness of the water.  The wind, which had hitherto been east and
+north-east, again shifting to the southward, blew directly down the
+harbour, which would enable the ship, should she be captured, to be
+brought down without difficulty.
+
+Bill's heart beat quicker than usual as he thought of the work in hand,
+and recollected that the success of the undertaking might considerably
+depend upon him.  The night was very dark, but as the boats got up to
+the mouth of the harbour the lights on shore could be distinguished, as
+well as several on board vessels at anchor.  The boats kept clear of the
+latter, lest any of their people might discover them and give the alarm.
+The barge led, the launch and cutter following in succession.  The
+success of the undertaking would depend on their being able to take the
+enemy by surprise.
+
+As yet no signs had been perceived that their approach was discovered,
+and Bill advised that they should keep over to the west shore, where
+there were no vessels at anchor, but where he was sure there was water
+for the boats, from having seen a good-sized craft keeping that course
+at low tide.
+
+As they got higher up, the sound of voices came off the shore, as if the
+people were laughing and making merry.  This gave Mr Saltwell hopes
+that many of the crew were landed, and that those on board would be
+totally unprepared for an attack.  He intended to board on the starboard
+quarter, and he had given directions to the other officers, one to board
+on the larboard quarter and the other at the main chains, his object
+being to overpower the resistance the officer's would make aft, then to
+sweep the decks until the forecastle was gained.  One of the boats was
+immediately to shove ahead and cut the cable, while certain of the men
+had been directed to hoist the headsails, so that the prize might,
+without an instant's delay, be making her way down the harbour before
+any assistance could come off to her from the land.
+
+The moment for action was approaching.  The ship was seen at the spot
+where Bill thought she would be found, lying silent and dark, her tall
+masts and the tracery of her rigging just to be distinguished against
+the sky.  No one was observed moving on her deck.  Eagerly the boats
+dashed forward to the posts allotted to them.  The bows of the barge had
+just hooked on when the sentry on the gangway, who had evidently not
+been attending to his duty, shouted out, and fired his musket.
+
+The rest of the watch came rushing aft, but it was to encounter the crew
+of the barge, who, having climbed up her side, had already gained her
+deck.  Their officers at the same moment sprang up the companion-hatch,
+sword in hand, but were knocked over before they could strike a blow.
+
+The crews of the other boats had, in the meantime, gained the deck, but
+not before the rest of the Frenchmen came tumbling up from below armed
+with cutlasses and pikes, or such weapons as they could lay their hands
+on.  Though they made a bold stand, and endeavoured to defend the fore
+part of the ship, they had to retreat before the desperate charge of the
+boarders, who, with cutlasses flashing and cutting, soon hewed a way for
+themselves to the forecastle, leaving the deck on either side covered
+with dead or wounded men.  Not a word had been spoken, and scarcely a
+shout uttered, but the clashing of steel and flashing of pistols must
+have showed the people on shore what was going forward.
+
+The mate, to whom the duty had been assigned, having in the meantime
+carried his boat under the bows, quickly cut the cable, then allowing
+her to drift alongside, he sprang on to the forecastle, where he took
+charge of the party engaged in making sail.
+
+The third lieutenant, though he was severely wounded, went aft to the
+helm, and in less than three minutes from the time the boats got
+alongside, the prize, under her foresail and foretopsail, was standing
+down the harbour.
+
+Bill, having got hold of a pistol, kept close to Mr Saltwell, that he
+might be ready to assist him or obey any orders he might receive.  A few
+only of his men were standing round the lieutenant when a party of the
+French crew, who had already yielded, led by the boatswain, a big,
+sturdy fellow, whose cutlass had already brought two of the English
+seamen to the deck, suddenly attacked him, hoping to regain the ship.
+The sailors had enough to do to defend themselves, and the big boatswain
+was making a desperate blow at the lieutenant's head, when Bill, who
+thought it a time to use his pistol with effect, fired, and the
+boatswain fell, his cutlass dropping from his hand.  His followers on
+this sprang back, and, throwing down their weapons, cried for mercy.
+
+"I saw you do it, my lad," said the lieutenant.  "The second time you
+have saved my life.  I'll not forget it."
+
+The English sailors now had work enough to do to prevent the Frenchmen
+from rising.  While sail was being made, numerous boats also were seen
+coming off from the shore full of armed men, evidently with the
+intention of attempting to board the prize.  Sail after sail was let
+drop, and the ship ran faster and faster through the water.  She was
+not, however, as yet entirely won.  Her crew, though beaten down below,
+were still very numerous, and might, should they find the boats of their
+friends coming alongside, at any moment rise and try to regain her.  The
+fort also had to be passed, and the garrison were sure to have heard the
+uproar and would open fire as soon as she got within range of their
+guns.
+
+Notwithstanding this, the British seamen performed their various duties
+as steadily as if they were on board their own ship.  Some were aloft,
+loosing sails; others ran out the guns, ready to give the boats a warm
+reception, and others kept an eye on the prisoners.
+
+The breeze freshened, and the prize in a short time reached the mouth of
+the harbour.  No sooner had she done so than the guns from the fort, as
+had been expected, opened fire, and their shot, thick as hail, came
+crashing on board.  Several men were struck, and the sails shot through
+and through.  None of the yards, however, were carried away, and the
+canvas stood filled out with the breeze.
+
+A number of prisoners had remained on deck, with sentries over them, as
+the shot struck the ship.  Several, to avoid it, endeavoured to escape
+below.  Some succeeded, not waiting to descend by the ladders, but
+leaping down, to the no small risk of breaking their arms and legs.
+There was still more sail to be set, and Bill was pulling and hauling,
+when he saw a shot come plump in among a party of prisoners.  Three
+fell; the rest, in spite of the sentries, making a desperate rush, leapt
+down the main hatchway.
+
+Bill at that moment saw a young Frenchman, who had been struck,
+struggling on the deck, and a voice crying out which he thought he
+recognised.
+
+He sprang towards the sailor, and lifted him up.  He was not mistaken;
+it was his friend Pierre.
+
+"Are you badly hurt?" he asked in French.
+
+"I'm afraid so, in my side," was the answer.  "My poor mother, and
+Jeannette, I shall never see them more."
+
+"I hope that things are not so bad as that," responded Bill.  "I will
+try and get you below.  Here!" and he called to one of the prisoners who
+had remained on deck, and who, being very glad to get out of the way of
+the shot, willingly assisted Bill in dragging the wounded man to the
+companion-hatchway, down which the two together lifted him, and placed
+him in the gun-room.
+
+Fortunately the French surgeon had been ill in his berth, but had now
+got up, prepared to attend to his professional duties.  As yet, however,
+none of the wounded prisoners had been brought aft, and Pierre, who had
+been placed on the gun-room table, was the first man the surgeon took
+under his care.
+
+"He is not badly hurt, I hope," said Bill, rather anxiously.
+
+"That's more than I can say, my young friend," answered the surgeon,
+"but I will attend to him.  I shall have patients enough on my hands
+directly, I fear."
+
+Bill felt that he ought not to remain a moment longer below, though he
+greatly wished to learn how much Pierre had been injured.  All he could
+do, therefore, was to press his friend's hand, and spring up again on
+deck.
+
+The battery was still firing away at the prize, and every now and then a
+crashing sound, as the shot struck her, showed that she was within range
+of its guns; but she was rapidly distancing the boats, which could now
+only be dimly seen astern.
+
+The British crew raised a cheer when they found that they had to a
+certainty secured their prize.  Still the battery continued firing, but
+not another shot struck her, and at length the dim outline of the
+_Thisbe_ was seen ahead.  Shortly afterwards the prize, rounding to
+under the frigate's quarter, was received with hearty cheers by her
+crew.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+THE POWDER MONKEY GETS HIS FIRST STEP UP THE RATLINES.
+
+The British wounded, and the French prisoners captured in the prize,
+were forthwith taken on board the _Thisbe_, when both ships made sail to
+get a good offing from the coast before daylight.  Mr Saltwell remained
+in command of the prize with the crew which had so gallantly won her.
+The wounded Frenchmen were also allowed to continue on board under
+charge of their surgeon, with an English assistant-surgeon to help him,
+for there were upwards of forty poor fellows who required his care.
+
+Bill was glad to find that he had not to go back to his own ship, as he
+wanted to look after Pierre, and as soon as his duty would allow him he
+went below to learn how his young French friend was getting on.  When he
+asked for the man whom he had brought down, the doctor pointed to one of
+the officer's cabins in the gun-room, observing, "He is somewhat badly
+hurt, but there are others still more cruelly knocked about who require
+my care, and I have not been able to attend to him for some time."
+
+Bill hurried into the cabin.  A faint voice replied to him.
+
+"_Merci, merci_!  It is very kind of you to come and see me, but I fear
+that I shall not get over it," said Pierre.  "Is there no chance of our
+returning to France?  I should like to die under my father's roof, and
+see my mother and Jeannette once more."
+
+"There's no chance of your getting back for the present, but I hope you
+will see your mother and sister notwithstanding," answered Bill.  "We
+are running across the Channel, and shall be in an English port in a day
+or two, when you will be landed, and I will ask the captain to let me
+take care of you.  I should like to prove how grateful I am for all your
+kindness to me and Jack Peek, and I will tell Mr Saltwell, the
+lieutenant who commands this ship, how you and your family treated me.
+But I don't think you ought to talk; I came to see if I could do
+anything for you."
+
+"My lips are parched; I am very thirsty; I should like something to
+drink," answered Pierre.
+
+"I will see what I can find," said Bill; and making his way to the
+steward's pantry outside the captain's cabin, he hunted about until he
+discovered some lemons.  He quickly squeezed out the juice of a couple
+of them, and mixing it with water, brought the beverage to Pierre, who
+drank it eagerly.  It much revived him.
+
+"I was very unfortunate to be on board the _Atlante_ when you captured
+her, for I had no wish to fight the English," said Pierre.  "Only ten
+days ago I was persuaded to come on board to see a friend, and the crew
+would not let me return on shore.  However, I was determined to make the
+best of it, hoping before long to get back to my family, and be able to
+assist my father.  And now to be cut down by my own countrymen, for it
+was a shot from the battery on shore which wounded me.  It is more than
+I can bear!"
+
+"Don't think about it," said Bill; "you are safe from further harm, and
+will be well taken care of; and when you have recovered, and the war is
+over, you will be able to go back.  I must leave you now, but I will
+come and see you as often as I can.  I have placed the jug of lemonade
+close to your head, where it cannot slip.  When that is gone I will get
+some more; it is the best thing you can take at present."
+
+Saying this, Bill hurried back to attend to his duty on deck, for, young
+as he was, as the prize was short-handed, he had plenty of work to do.
+Several times he passed Mr Saltwell, who gave him a kind look or said a
+word or two of encouragement, but did not allude to the service Bill had
+done him.
+
+"He probably has forgotten all about my having shot the French
+boatswain," thought Bill.  "I only did my duty, and if anybody else had
+been in his place I should have done the same."
+
+The frigate and her fresh prize were meantime making the best of their
+way across the Channel.  As the latter, a fast sailor, was not
+materially injured, all sail was made on her, and she kept good way with
+the _Thisbe_.  At the same time there was still the risk of either one
+or both being taken by a French ship of superior force, though neither
+was likely to yield without making every effort to escape.  A constant
+look-out was kept from the mast-head, but as the ships got farther and
+farther from the French coast, the hope of escaping without having again
+to fight increased.
+
+Several sail were seen in the distance, but it was supposed that they
+were either merchantmen, standing up or down Channel, in spite of the
+enemy's cruisers on the watch to pick them up, or privateers, and,
+seeing that the _Thisbe_ was a frigate, took good care to keep out of
+her way.
+
+At length the entrance to Plymouth Sound was descried, and the _Thisbe_
+and her prize stood up it triumphantly with colours flying, creating
+considerable astonishment at her quick return with another capture.
+Both were soon moored in Hamoaze, when the _Atlante_, a fine little
+ship, carrying twenty guns on one deck, was handed over to the prize
+agents with the full expectation that she would be bought into the
+service.  The prisoners were carried on shore, the wounded men were
+taken to the hospital, and the prize crew returned on board their own
+ship.
+
+Bill had been very anxious to accompany Pierre, that he might watch over
+him with more care than strangers could do, but he had had no
+opportunity of asking leave of Mr Saltwell.
+
+He had not been long on board the frigate, and was giving an account of
+the boarding expedition to Jack and Tom, when he heard his name called
+along the decks.
+
+"Boy Rayner, the captain has sent for you into the cabin," said the
+master-at-arms.
+
+"What can you be wanted for!" exclaimed Tom.  "Look out for squalls.  I
+shouldn't like to be in your shoes."
+
+"No fear of that," said Jack.  "Maybe the first lieutenant has told the
+captain how Bill saved his life.  I wish that I had had a chance of
+doing something of the sort."
+
+Bill, however, did not stop to hear the remarks of his two friends, but
+hurried aft, thinking that now would be the time to say something in
+poor Pierre's favour.
+
+The sentry, who knew that he had been sent for, allowed him to pass
+without question, and he soon found himself in the presence of the
+captain and Mr Saltwell, who were seated at the table in the main
+cabin.  Bill stood, hat in hand, ready to answer any questions which
+might be put to him.
+
+"William Rayner," said the captain, "you have, I understand, behaved
+remarkably well on several occasions, twice especially, by saving Mr
+Saltwell's life through your coolness and presence of mind.  You are
+also, I find, a fair French scholar, and the first lieutenant reports
+favourably of your conduct in your former ship.  I wish to reward you.
+Let me know how I can best do so in a way satisfactory to yourself."
+
+"I only did my duty without thinking of being rewarded," answered Bill;
+"but I have been wishing since we took the prize that something could be
+done for a young Frenchman who was badly hurt on board her by a shot
+from the battery which fired at us.  He and his father saved Jack Peek
+and me from drowning when we were blown up in the _Foxhound_, and his
+family were afterwards very kind to us, and did their utmost to save us
+from being carried off to prison, and when we were hid away in a cave,
+his sister, at great risk, brought us food.  He will now be amongst
+strangers, who do not understand his lingo, and the poor fellow will be
+very sad and solitary; so I think he would like it, if I could get leave
+to go and stay with him while the frigate remains in harbour.  I'll take
+it as a great favour, sir, since you ask me what reward I should like,
+if you can let me go and be with him at the hospital, or if that cannot
+be, if he may be removed to some lodging where he can be well looked
+after until he recovers and is sent back to his own home."
+
+"There may be some difficulty in doing as you propose," replied the
+captain.  "Mr Saltwell will, however, I have no doubt, try to make a
+satisfactory arrangement, for a person behaving as the young Frenchman
+has done deserves to be rewarded; but that is not what I meant; I want
+you to choose some reward for yourself, and wish you to let me know how
+I can best serve you."
+
+"Thank you, sir," answered Bill.  "I cannot think just now of anything I
+require, though I should be very glad if I could get Pierre sent back to
+his family."
+
+"Your parents, perhaps, will be able to decide better than you can do,
+then.  Your father or mother," observed the captain.
+
+"I have neither father nor mother, sir," answered Bill.  "They are both
+dead."
+
+"Your relatives and friends might decide," said the captain.
+
+"I have no relatives or friends, nor any one to care for me that I know
+of," said Bill, in a quiet voice.
+
+"Then Mr Saltwell and I must settle the matter," said Captain Martin.
+"Should you like to be placed on the quarter-deck?  If you go on as you
+have begun, and let duty alone guide you on all occasions, you will, if
+you live, rise in the service and be an honour to it."
+
+Bill almost gasped for breath as he heard this.  He knew that the
+captain was in earnest, and he looked at him, and then at Mr Saltwell,
+but could not speak.
+
+"Come, say what you wish, my lad," said Captain Martin, in an
+encouraging tone.
+
+Still Bill was silent.
+
+"You will have opportunities of improving your education, and you need
+not fear about being well received by the young gentlemen in the
+midshipmen's berth," observed Mr Saltwell.  "Captain Martin and I will
+make arrangements for giving you an outfit and supplying you with such
+funds as you will require, besides which you will come in for a
+midshipman's share of prize-money."
+
+The kind way in which the captain and first lieutenant spoke greatly
+assisted Bill to find his tongue and to express himself appropriately.
+
+"I am grateful, sirs, for your offer, and hope that I always shall be
+grateful.  If you think that I am fit to become a midshipman, I will try
+to do my duty as such, so I accept your offer with all my heart."
+
+Bill, overpowered by his feelings, could say no more.
+
+"The matter is settled, then," said the captain; and sending for the
+purser, he at once entered the name of William Rayner as a midshipman on
+the ship's books, the only formality requisite in those days, though his
+rank would afterwards have to be confirmed at the Admiralty.
+
+The purser observed that he had a suit of clothes belonging to one of
+the midshipmen killed in the action with the French frigate, which
+would, he thought, exactly fit Mr Rayner.
+
+Bill felt very curious at hearing himself so spoken of.
+
+The purser said that he would debit him with them at a moderate price.
+
+The captain approving of this proposal, Bill, in the course of a few
+minutes, found himself dressed in a midshipman's uniform.  He could
+scarcely believe his senses.  It seemed to him as if by the power of an
+enchanter's wand he had been changed into some one else.
+
+The first lieutenant then desired him to accompany him, and leading the
+way down to the berth, in which a number of the young gentlemen were
+assembled for dinner, he stopped at the door.
+
+"I wish, young gentlemen, to present a new messmate to you," he said,
+looking in.  "Mr William Rayner!  He has gained his position by
+exhibiting those qualities which I am sure you all admire, and you will,
+I have no doubt, treat him as a friend."
+
+The members of the mess who were present rose and cordially put out
+their hands towards Bill, whom the first lieutenant, taking by the aim,
+drew into the berth.
+
+Mr Saltwell then returned on deck.
+
+Bill naturally felt very bashful, but his new messmates did their best
+to set him at ease, and no one alluded to his former position.  They
+spoke only of the late action, and begged him to give a description of
+the way in which he had saved Mr Saltwell's life, a vague account of
+which they had heard.
+
+Bill complied, modestly, not saying more about himself than was
+necessary.  What he said gained him the applause of his new messmates,
+and raised him greatly in their estimation; he therefore found himself
+far more at his ease than he had expected would be possible; no one by
+word or deed showing that they recollected that he had been just before
+a ship's boy, but all treated him as an equal.
+
+His only regret now was that he could no longer talk with Jack and Tom
+as he had been accustomed to do, though he hoped that he should still be
+able, without doing anything derogatory to his new position, to speak to
+them in a friendly way.  Thinking highly of Jack as he did, he regretted
+more than ever that his former messmate could neither read nor write.
+He felt sure that he would, should he have an opportunity, do something
+to merit promotion.
+
+Bill commenced his new duties with a spirit and alacrity which was
+remarked by his superior officers.  He had narrowly observed the way the
+midshipmen conducted themselves, and was thus able to behave as well as
+the best of them.  He was a little puzzled at first at dinner, but by
+seeing what others did he soon got over the slight difficulty he had to
+encounter.
+
+Next day Mr Saltwell called him up as he was walking the quarter-deck.
+
+"I have been making inquiries as to what can be done for your friend
+Pierre Turgot," he said.  "As you told me he was not willingly on board
+the privateer, I was able to state that in his favour, and I have
+obtained leave for him to be removed to a private house, where he can
+remain until he has recovered, and he will then, I hope, be allowed to
+return to France without waiting for an exchange of prisoners.  Were he
+to be sent back with others, he would probably at once be compelled to
+serve afloat, and his great desire is, I understand, to return to his
+own family, to follow his former occupation of a fisherman."
+
+"Thank you, sir," exclaimed Bill, "I cannot be too grateful to you for
+your kindness."
+
+"Don't talk of that, my lad; if it hadn't been for your courage and
+coolness I should not have been here.  I am now going on shore, and wish
+you to accompany me.  I have seen the widow of an old shipmate of mine
+who is willing to receive Pierre into her house, and to attend to him.
+We will have him removed at once, so that when we sail you will know he
+is placed under good care."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
+
+WILLIAM RAYNER IS ENABLED TO SHOW HIS GRATITUDE TO PIERRE.
+
+Will at once got ready to attend the first lieutenant.  The boat being
+alongside, they were soon on shore.  Their first visit was to the
+hospital, which, being overcrowded, the authorities were glad to get rid
+of one of their patients.  Pierre was placed in a litter and conveyed,
+accompanied by Mr Saltwell and Bill, to the residence of Mrs Crofton,
+a neat cottage standing by itself in a small garden.  A pretty little
+girl about thirteen years of age opened the door, and on seeing the
+strangers summoned her mother, who at once appeared, and led the way to
+the room she had prepared for Pierre's reception.  It was on the
+ground-floor, and contained a dimity-covered bed, and a few other simple
+articles of furniture, quite sufficient for all the young French
+sailor's wants.
+
+Pierre again and again thanked Bill for having brought him to so
+delightful a place.
+
+"Ah!" he said, "that lady," looking at Mrs Crofton, "reminds me of my
+mother, and the little girl is just like Jeannette, when she was
+younger.  And they are so kind and gentle!  I shall get well very soon,
+though I think I should have died if I had remained at the hospital,
+where I was nearly stifled, while day and night I heard the oaths and
+groans of my wounded compatriots, who abuse the English as the cause of
+their suffering, regardless of the care that is being taken of them."
+
+"I was very sure you would recover sooner in a quiet house by yourself,
+and therefore I begged my officer to have you removed," said Bill.
+
+It was not for some time that Pierre remarked the new midshipman's
+uniform.
+
+"Why, you told me you were a ship's boy, now I see you dressed as an
+officer!" he exclaimed, in a tone of astonishment.  "The gendarmes were
+right after all."
+
+"No, they were wrong," answered Bill.  "I was then what I told you, but
+I am now a midshipman."
+
+He then gave an account to Pierre of how he had been promoted.  Their
+conversation was interrupted by the return of Mrs Crofton and Mary with
+some food for their patient, as the doctor had told Mr Saltwell that he
+should be fed often, though with but little at a time.  As Mrs Crofton
+could speak French, she did not require Bill to interpret for her.
+
+He was glad to find that Pierre would be able to converse with his kind
+hostess Mr Saltwell, who had gone into the drawing-room, now told Bill
+that he might stay with Pierre until the evening, and that he should
+have leave to visit him every day while the frigate remained in harbour.
+
+The first lieutenant now took his leave, and Mrs Crofton observing that
+"Pierre would be the better for some sleep, after the excitement of
+being moved," invited Bill into her sitting-room, she naturally wishing
+to hear more about his adventures in France than Mr Saltwell had been
+able to tell her.  Bill himself was perfectly willing to talk away on
+the subject as long as she wished, especially when he found so ready a
+listener in Mary.  He began with an account of the blowing up of the
+_Foxhound_; and when he had finished, Mrs Crofton wished to know how it
+was that he first came to go to sea, and so he had to go back to tell
+her all about himself, and the death of his mother, and how he had been
+left penniless in the world.
+
+"And now I find you a midshipman with warm friends; in a few years you
+will be a lieutenant, then a commander, and next a post-captain, I hope,
+and at length a British admiral, and you will have gained your promotion
+without the interest of relatives or born friends, simply by your own
+good conduct and bravery."
+
+"I don't know what I may become, ma'am," said Bill, inclined to smile at
+Mrs Crofton's enthusiasm.  "At present I am but a midshipman, but I
+will try, as I always have, to do my duty."
+
+This conversation made Bill feel perfectly at home with Mrs Crofton.
+Indeed, it seemed to him as if he had known her all his life, so that he
+was willing to confide in her as if she were his mother.
+
+He was equally willing to confide in Mary.  Indeed, all the reserve he
+at first felt quickly wore off, and he talked to her as if she had been
+his sister.  If he did not say to himself that she was a perfect angel,
+he thought her what most people would consider very much better--a kind,
+good, honest, open-hearted girl, with clear hazel, truthful eyes, and a
+sweet smile on her mouth when she smiled, which was very frequently,
+with a hearty ring in her laughter.  She reminded him, as she did
+Pierre, of Jeannette, and Bill felt very sure that, should she ever have
+the opportunity of helping any one in distress, she would be ready to
+take as much trouble and run as many risks as the French girl had in
+assisting Jack and him.
+
+"Do you know, Mr Rayner, I like midshipmen very much?" she said, in her
+artless way.  "My brother Oliver is a midshipman, and as I am very fond
+of him, I like all midshipmen for his sake.  At first I was inclined to
+like you because you were a midshipman, but now I like you for
+yourself."
+
+"I am much obliged to you," said Bill; "and I like you for yourself, I
+can tell you.  I didn't know before that you had a brother Oliver.
+Where is he serving?"
+
+"On board the _Ariel_ corvette in the West Indies," answered Mary.
+
+"Perhaps some day we may fall in with each other," said Bill; "and I am
+very sure, from what you say about him, we shall become good friends,
+for I shall be inclined to like him for your sake."
+
+"Then I'm sure he will like you; he could not help doing so.  He is only
+three years older than I am; just about your age I suppose.  He went to
+sea when he was a very little fellow with poor dear papa, who was killed
+in action.  Oliver was by his side at the time, and wrote us home an
+account of the sad, sad event, saying how brokenhearted he was.  The
+people were very kind to him.  Papa was lieutenant of the ship, and was
+loved by all the men, as I am sure he would have been, remembering how
+good and kind and gentle he was with us."
+
+The tears came into Mary's bright eyes as she spoke of her father.
+
+"Whenever we hear of a battle out there, poor mamma is very anxious
+until the particulars come home, and she knows that Oliver is safe,"
+said Mary.  "We are nearly sure to get a letter from him, for he always
+writes when he can, and I hope that you'll write also when you are away,
+and tell us all that you are doing; then we shall receive two letters
+instead of one, and we shall always be so very, very glad to hear from
+you."
+
+Bill promised that he would write constantly, saying that he should be
+pleased to do so, especially as he had not many correspondents; indeed,
+he might have said that he had none, as he was, in truth, not acquainted
+with anybody on shore.  Mary and her mother were the first friends he
+had ever possessed, so that he very naturally valued them the more.
+They were of very great service to him in many respects, for Mrs
+Crofton was a ladylike and refined person, though her means were small,
+and she was able to give him instruction in the ways and manners of
+people of education; though Bill was so observant, and anxious to
+imitate what was right, that he only required the opportunity to fit
+himself thoroughly for his new station in life.
+
+Mr Saltwell lent him books, and he read during every spare moment, to
+make amends for his want of early education.
+
+When he came on shore, Mrs Crofton assisted him, and as she knew French
+very well, helped him to study it with a grammar and dictionary, which
+he found very easy, as he already understood so much of the language,
+and he was able to practise speaking with Pierre.
+
+The young Frenchman slowly recovered, but the doctor, who came to visit
+him from the hospital every day, said that it would be a long time
+before he would regain strength and be able to return to France.
+
+Bill had written, at Pierre's dictation, to Madame Turgot, to tell her
+where he was, what had happened to him, and how well he was treated.  It
+was rather a funny composition, as Pierre was no great scholar, and
+could not say how the words should be spelt, but Bill showed it to Mrs
+Crofton, who assured him that it would be understood perfectly well,
+which was the great object required, and that Madame Turgot would be
+satisfied, from the tone and expression, that it came from her son.
+
+There was no regular post in those days between the two countries.
+Pierre, however, at length got an answer from his mother, directed to
+the care of Mrs Crofton, expressing her heartfelt thanks to Lieutenant
+Saltwell and Bill, and the kind lady who had befriended him.  She sent
+also many messages from Captain Turgot and Jeannette.
+
+The letter arrived just as the _Thisbe_ was ready for sea.  Mary could
+not help bursting into tears when Bill took his leave for the last time.
+
+"It's just like Oliver going away," she said.  Indeed, it was evident
+that she looked upon Bill as another Oliver, and even Mrs Crofton
+showed how sincerely sorry she was to part with her young visitor, who
+had so greatly won on her affections.
+
+She promised to write again to Madame Turgot to let her know how Pierre
+was getting on; but there appeared no probability of his being able to
+move until the frigate came back, when Mr Saltwell would be able to
+make arrangements for his return to France.
+
+Though sorry to leave his kind friends, Bill was very glad to be at sea
+again, and engaged in the active duties of his profession.  His
+messmates treated him with much kindness, and remarked among themselves
+the improvement in his manners, while two or three fresh members of the
+mess, when they heard how he had gained his promotion, looked upon him
+with evident respect.  He did not, however, forget his old friends, and
+Jack was always pleased when he came forward to talk to him, and did not
+appear at all jealous, which could not be said of Tom, who, though he
+did not venture to show his feelings, was inclined to keep out of his
+way, and sometimes answered in rather a surly tone when spoken to,
+always taking care to bring in the "sir" after every sentence, and
+touching his hat with mock respect, of which Bill, though he could not
+fail to observe, took no notice.
+
+The _Thisbe_ had been several weeks at sea, and had during that time
+captured, without firing a shot, three of the enemy's merchantmen, which
+she had sent into Plymouth, the more pugnacious of the crew grumbling at
+not having encountered an enemy worthy of their prowess, and which would
+have afforded them a larger amount of prize-money.
+
+Captain Martin was about to return to port to take on board his officers
+and men when he was joined by the _Venus_ frigate.  Her captain told him
+that he had just before made out two French frigates to the south-east,
+and the _Thisbe_ bore up with the _Venus_ in chase, with every stitch of
+canvas they could carry set.
+
+A stern chase is proverbially a long chase, and the French frigates,
+which had been seen to the eastward, had a considerable start of their
+pursuers.  Still, as they had been under moderate canvas, it was hoped
+that they would set no more sail, and might thus be overtaken.
+
+A sharp look-out was kept, and the officers were continually going aloft
+with their glasses, and sweeping the horizon from north to south, in the
+hopes of espying the enemy.
+
+"I say, Jack, do you think if we come up with those two Frenchmen we are
+chasing they'll turn round and fight us?" asked Tom, who thought it much
+pleasanter to capture unarmed merchant vessels than to have to fight an
+enemy which sent round shots and bullets on board in return.
+
+"No doubt about that, youngster," answered Ben Twinch, the boatswain's
+mate, who overheard Tom's remark.  "What do you think we come to sea
+for?  If we can take a man-of-war of our own size she's worth half a
+dozen merchant craft, though, to be sure, some of us may lose the number
+of our mess; but we all know that, and make no count of it.  Maybe
+you'll have your head taken off one of these days, and if you do, you'll
+only share the fate of many another fine fellow."
+
+"I hope not!" cried Tom, mechanically putting up his hand to his head as
+if to hold it on, and turning from Ben.
+
+"Never fear!" said Jack, wishing to console him; "the chances are that
+you will escape and live to fight another day."
+
+If Tom had any fear, it was not the time to show it.  He heard all
+around him speak of fighting as if it were fun, and of death with
+seeming levity.  It is the way of the young and the thoughtless.  Old
+sailors and old soldiers seldom talk thus, and think more of duty than
+of glory.  For young or for old the loss of life is not a matter for
+light talk, as if death were only the end of it.  Those that cause war
+will have much to reckon for hereafter.  But there is no time for such
+thoughts in sight of the enemy.  So we must go on with our story.
+
+The midshipmen aft were universally anxious to come up with the vessels
+of which they were in chase.  It was supposed that they were frigates of
+the same size as their own and the _Venus_; but should they prove much
+larger, they were equally ready to engage them.
+
+Still, hour after hour went by, and no enemy appearing, they began to
+fear that the Frenchmen would get into port before they could be
+overtaken.  At length, just before the sun reached the horizon, his rays
+fell on the royals and topgallantsails of two ships right ahead.  As the
+sun sank lower they were again lost to view, but their appearance
+revived the hopes of all on board.  It was not likely that they would
+alter their course during the night, and it was hoped, therefore, that
+before morning they would be overtaken.  It was not likely that the
+_Thisbe_ and _Venus_, being in the shadow, would have been perceived.
+
+"The chances are that we shall be upon them in the dark," said Jack to
+Tom; "and we'll surprise them, I've a notion.  The captain thinks so, or
+he wouldn't have given the order to prepare for action."
+
+"I would rather fight in daylight," said Tom, "and I hope they'll manage
+to keep ahead till then."
+
+Jack laughed, for he suspected that Tom would rather not fight at all.
+
+The watch below were ordered to turn in as usual, but most of the
+officers kept on deck, too eager for the work to be able to sleep.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
+
+ACTION BETWEEN THE "THISBE" AND A FRENCH FRIGATE.
+
+Rayner--for such he ought now to be called--who was in the middle watch,
+was standing forward on the look-out, and, as may be supposed, he did
+not allow an eye to wink.  Several times he thought that he could see
+two dark objects rising above the horizon, but his imagination might
+have deceived him, for they, at all events, grew no larger.  When his
+watch was over, he came aft into the midshipmen's berth, where several
+of his messmates were collected.  He might have turned in, for the night
+was drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight.  He, as well
+as others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table.
+
+They were aroused from their uncomfortable slumbers by the boatswain's
+call, piping the hammocks up, and on coming on deck the first thing they
+saw were the two ships they had been chasing all night directly ahead,
+their topsails just rising above the water.  Their hopes revived that
+they would come up with them before the day was many hours older; still
+the strangers were a long way out of range of their bow chasers.
+
+As the sun rose and shone on their own canvas they knew that they must
+be clearly seen, and it was hoped that the two ships would, if their
+captains were inclined to fight, heave to and await their coming.
+
+Such, however, it was evidently the intention of the Frenchman not to
+do, for it was seen that studding-sails were being set below and aloft.
+
+"Still they may not have the heels of us," observed Captain Martin to
+the first lieutenant; "and before they get into Cherbourg we may be up
+to them."
+
+It was thought that as the day advanced the wind might increase, but in
+this Captain Martin was disappointed.  At length, towards evening, Cape
+La Hogue and the coast of France, to the westward of Cherbourg, appeared
+in sight.  In a few hours it was too probable that the French ships
+would get safe into port.
+
+Remarks not over complimentary to the valour of the Frenchmen were made
+by the crews of the English frigates, when they saw that the enemy had
+escaped them; but as Jack observed, "There's no use grumbling; the
+mounseers have got away from us because they knew the tremendous
+drubbing we would have given them."
+
+"Perhaps we may see them again before long," said Tom, his courage
+returning now that all danger of an encounter had passed.  "Depend on
+it, our captain will do his best to give them a taste of our quality."
+
+Tom was right; for although the _Thisbe_ and _Venus_ had to haul their
+wind, and stand off shore, a bright look-out was kept, in the hopes that
+the French frigates might again put to sea.
+
+Day after day passed, and at length the _Venus_ parted company from the
+_Thisbe_.  The latter frigate was standing across Channel when a lugger
+was sighted, to which she gave chase.  The stranger at first made all
+sail, as if to escape.  She was at length seen to heave to.  On coming
+up with her, it was at first doubtful whether she was English or French,
+but as the frigate approached she hoisted English colours and lowered a
+boat, which in a short time came alongside, and a fine,
+intelligent-looking man stepping upon deck, announced himself as master
+of the lugger.  He had, he said, at first taken the _Thisbe_ for a
+French frigate which was in the habit of coming out of Cherbourg every
+evening, picking up any prizes she could fall in with, and returning
+next morning with them into port.  He had, indeed, narrowly escaped once
+before.
+
+This was valuable information, and Captain Martin determined to act upon
+it, in the hopes of capturing the marauder.  Being engaged in particular
+service, the master of the lugger was allowed to proceed on his way, and
+the _Thisbe_ stood back towards Cherbourg.
+
+The day passed, and no enemy appeared.  Next morning, however, a sail
+was seen to the northward.  Captain Martin immediately bore up to
+ascertain her character.  As the daylight increased, all felt confident
+that she was a frigate, and probably French.  The stranger was seen to
+be carrying a press of canvas, and apparently steering for Cherbourg.
+To re-enter that port she must encounter the _Thisbe_, on board which
+preparations were made for the expected engagement.  The stranger, too,
+continuing her course, hauled her wind, and stood down Channel, as if
+anxious to escape.  Why she did so it was difficult to say, except on
+the possibility that she had seen another English ship to the northward,
+and was unwilling to encounter two enemies at once.
+
+It was the general opinion that she was a powerful frigate, considerably
+larger than the _Thisbe_; but even if such were the case, Captain Martin
+was not the man to be deterred from engaging her.  The stranger sailed
+well, and there appeared every probability that she would distance the
+_Thisbe_, and if she wished it, get back to port without coming to
+action.
+
+In a short time the weather became very thick, and, to the
+disappointment of all, the stranger was lost sight of.  Still the
+_Thisbe_ continued her course, and many a sharp pair of eyes were
+employed in looking out for the Frenchman, it being difficult to say,
+should the fog lift, in what direction she might next be seen.  She
+might tack and run back to Cherbourg, or she might, trusting to her
+superior sailing, stand across the _Thisbe's_ bows to the southward.
+
+A couple of hours passed.  As at any moment the fog might clear away,
+and the stranger might appear close aboard her, the _Thisbe_ prepared
+for immediate action.  The men had been sent below to dinner, and the
+prospect of a fight did not damp their appetites.
+
+The midshipmen had finished theirs, and Rayner, who had just relieved
+one of his messmates on deck, was on the look-out when he espied, away
+on the larboard bow, a sail through the fog, which had somewhat
+dispersed in that quarter.  A second glance convinced him that she was a
+large ship.  He instantly shouted out the welcome intelligence.  Every
+one hoped that she was the vessel they were in search of.  The drum beat
+to quarters, and scarcely were the guns run out than the fog clearing
+still more discovered a large frigate standing under all sail to the
+eastward, about half a mile away.  If she were the one they had before
+seen, she had evidently acted as Captain Martin had supposed might be
+the case, and having crossed the _Thisbe's_ course, had then kept away,
+hoping to get in shore of her and back to Cherbourg.  At once the
+_Thisbe_ was put about, and then stood so as to cross the stranger's
+bows.  The latter, on seeing this, hoisting French colours, rapidly
+shortened sail and hauled up to the northward, the two ships crossing
+each other on contrary tacks.  The _Thisbe_ fired her starboard
+broadside, receiving one in return, and then going about, endeavoured to
+get to windward of her antagonist.  This, however, she was unable to do,
+and was compelled to continue the engagement to leeward.  Her crew
+fought with the usual courage of British seamen, but the enemy's shot
+were making fearful havoc on her masts and rigging.  Her three lower
+masts and bowsprit were in a short time wounded in several places, most
+of her stays were shot away, and much damage was done to the main
+rigging.
+
+At length her main-topsail yard was shot away in the slings by a
+double-headed shot, and the yard-arms came down in front of the
+mainyard, the leech ropes of the mainsail were cut to pieces and the
+sail riddled.  All the time, also, whenever the ships were within
+musket-range, showers of bullets came rattling on board, and several of
+the men were laid low.
+
+Still Captain Martin did not attempt to escape from his opponent, which
+was seen to have twenty guns on a side, besides quarter-deck guns, and a
+number of men armed with muskets.  He hoped, by perseverance, to knock
+away her masts or inflict such other serious injury as might compel her
+to give in.
+
+This was Rayner's first action since he had attained his present rank.
+He endeavoured to maintain his character, and though it was trying work
+to see his shipmates struck down on either side of him, he did not for a
+moment think of himself or the risk he ran of meeting the same fate.
+All the time spars, rigging, and blocks were falling from aloft, shot
+away by the hot fire of the enemy.  He endeavoured to keep himself cool
+and composed, and to execute the orders he received.
+
+Jack and Tom were employed as powder-monkeys on the maindeck, when
+Rayner was sent by the captain to ascertain what was going on.  As he
+went along it he passed his two friends.
+
+Jack was as active as ever, handing up the powder required; poor Tom
+looked the picture of misery.
+
+"Ain't the enemy going to strike yet, Mr Rayner?" he asked, in a
+melancholy tone; "we've been a long time about it, and I thought they
+would have given in long ago."
+
+"I hope they soon will have enough of it and give in, and we must blaze
+away at them until they do," answered the midshipman, hurrying on.
+
+Just then a shot came crashing in through the side, passing just where
+Rayner had been standing, sending the splinters flying about in all
+directions.  He had not time to look round, but thought he heard a cry
+as if some one had been hit, and he hurried on to deliver his message to
+the second lieutenant.
+
+On his way back he took a glance to see how it fared with his two
+friends.  Tom was seated on his tub, but poor Jack lay stretched on
+deck.  Rayner, hastening to him, lifted him up.
+
+"I'm only hit in the leg," answered Jack to his inquiries.  "It hurt me
+very much, and I fell, but I'll try to do my duty."  How barbarous is
+war!
+
+Rayner, however, saw that this was impossible, as the blood was flowing
+rapidly from the wounded limb, and calling one of the people appointed
+to attend those who were hurt, he ordered him to carry Jack below.
+"Tell the surgeons he's badly wounded, and get them to attend to him at
+once," he said.
+
+He longed to be able to go himself, but his duty compelled him to return
+to the upper deck.  Scarcely had he got there than he saw, to his grief,
+that the enemy had dropped under the stern, and the next instant,
+discharging her broadside, she raked the _Thisbe_ fore and aft.  In vain
+the latter tried to escape from her critical position; before she could
+do so she was a second time raked, the gaff being shot away, the
+mizenmast injured, and the remaining rigging cut through and through.
+Fortunately, the _Thisbe_ still answered her helm, and the crew were
+endeavouring to make sail, when the enemy ranged up on the starboard
+quarter, her forecastle being covered with men, evidently intending to
+board.
+
+Captain Martin, on seeing this, sent Rayner below with orders to double
+shot the after-maindeck guns, and to fire them as the enemy came close
+up.  The next he shouted the cry which British seamen are always ready
+to obey, "Boarders, repel boarders;" and every man not engaged at the
+guns hurried aft, cutlass in hand, ready to drive back the foe as soon
+as the ships should touch; but ere that moment arrived, an iron shower
+issued from the guns beneath their feet, crashing through the
+Frenchman's bows and tearing along her decks.  Instead of coming on, she
+suddenly threw all her sails aback, and hauled off out of gunshot.  On
+seeing this, the British crew uttered three hearty cheers, and Rayner,
+with others who had hurried from below, fully believed that the enemy
+had hauled down her flag, but instead of that, under all the sail she
+could carry, she continued standing away until she had got two miles
+off.  Here she hove-to, in order, it was evident, to repair damages.
+These must have been very severe, for many of her men were seen over the
+sides engaged in stopping shot-holes, while the water, which issued
+forth in cascades, showed that the pumps were being worked with might
+and main to keep her from sinking.
+
+The _Thisbe_ was in too crippled a condition to follow.  Several shot
+had passed between wind and water on both sides.  One gun on the
+quarter-deck and two on the maindeck were dismounted, and almost all the
+tackles and breachings were cut away.  The maindeck before the mainmast
+was torn up from the waterway to the hatchways, and the bits were shot
+away, as was the chief part of the gangways.  Not an officer had been
+killed, but two midshipmen, the master, and gunner, were wounded.
+Twenty men were wounded and eleven lost the number of their mess.
+
+The wind, which had been moderate when the action began, had now greatly
+increased.  Not a moment was lost in commencing the repair of damages.
+The sky indicated the approach of bad weather, and a westerly or
+south-westerly gale might be expected.  Before all the shot-holes could
+be stopped it came on to blow very hard.  Plymouth being too far to the
+westward, the nearest shelter the _Thisbe_ could reach was Portland,
+towards which she steered.
+
+The moon coming forth, she had light sufficient to run in and anchor,
+protected by the projecting headland from the furious gale now blowing.
+
+Many a brave man on board besides the captain breathed more freely than
+they had done for some hours when the anchor was dropped and the torn
+canvas furled.  Still the _Thisbe_ would be in a critical position
+should the wind shift more to the southward, as she would be exposed to
+the seas rolling into the bay.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
+
+THE SHIPWRECK.
+
+As soon as Rayner could obtain a spare moment, he hastened below to
+visit poor Jack.  He met Tom on the way.
+
+"Jack's very bad, Mr Rayner," answered Tom to his inquiries.  "He
+didn't know me just now; he's talking about his mother, and fancying
+she's nursing him."
+
+This news made our hero feel very sad, and he hurried on to the lower
+deck, where the wounded lay in their hammocks, sheltered by a canvas
+screen.
+
+He inquired of one of the attendants where Jack Peek was, and soon found
+him, the surgeon being by his side dressing his wound.
+
+"I'm much afraid that he will slip through our fingers unless we can
+manage to quell the fever.  He requires constant watching, and that is
+more than he can well obtain, with so many men laid up, and so much to
+do," said the doctor as he finished his task.  "However, Rayner, if you
+can stay by him, I'll be back in a few minutes to see how he's getting
+on.  In the meantime give him this medicine; if he comes to his senses,
+a word or two from you may do him good."
+
+Though Rayner himself could scarcely stand from fatigue, he undertook to
+do as the doctor requested.  He waited until he saw, by the light of the
+lantern hung up from a beam overhead, that Jack had come somewhat to
+himself, when he got him to take the draught he held in his hand.
+
+"How do you feel, Jack?" he asked in a low tone; but poor Jack did not
+reply.  After waiting a little time longer, Rayner again spoke.  "We've
+beaten off the enemy, you know, and are safe under shelter of the land.
+Cheer up now, you'll soon get round."
+
+"Is that you, Bill?" asked Jack, in a faint voice.  "I thought mother
+was with me, and I was on shore, but I'm glad she's not, for it would
+grieve her to see me knocked about as I am."
+
+"You'll do well now, the doctor said so, as you've come to yourself,"
+observed Rayner, much cheered at hearing Jack speak.  "I'll stay by you
+while it is my watch below, and then I'll get Tom to come.  Now go to
+sleep, if the pain will let you."
+
+"The pain isn't so very great, and I don't mind it since we have licked
+the enemy," answered Jack; "but I hope you won't be angry at me calling
+you Bill; I quite forgot, Mr Rayner, that you were a midshipman."
+
+"No, I didn't remark that you called me Bill," answered Rayner; "if I
+had, I shouldn't have thought about it.  I just feel as I did when I was
+your messmate.  However, I must not let you be talking, so now shut your
+eyes and get some sleep; it will do you more good than the doctor's
+stuff."
+
+Rayner was very glad when the doctor came back, accompanied by Tom, and
+having observed that Jack was going on as well as he expected, told him
+to go to his hammock.  This he gladly did, leaving Tom in charge of
+their friend.
+
+Rayner felt that he greatly needed rest; but as he had expended part of
+his watch below, he could not have three hours' sleep.
+
+On coming on deck he found the gale was blowing harder than ever, though
+the frigate lay sheltered by the land.
+
+Almost immediately the sound of a distant gun reached his ear.  It was
+followed rapidly by others, and the sound appeared to come down on the
+gale.
+
+"There's a ship in danger on the other side of Portland," observed the
+second lieutenant, who was the officer of the watch.  "Rayner, go and
+tell the captain.  He desired to be called if anything happened."
+
+Captain Martin, who had only thrown himself down on his bed in his
+clothes, was on his feet in a moment, and followed Rayner on deck.
+
+After listening a minute.  "It's more than possible she's our late
+antagonist," he observed.  "If the gale caught her unprepared, her masts
+probably went by the board, and, unable to help herself, she is driving
+in here.  Get a couple of boats ready with some coils of rope, and
+spars, and rockets, and we'll try and save the lives of the poor
+fellows."
+
+Rayner was surprised to hear this, supposing that the captain intended
+to pull out to sea, whereas he had resolved to go overland to the part
+of the coast which probably the ship in distress was approaching.
+Although where the frigate lay was tolerably smooth water, yet, from the
+white-crested seas which broke outside, and the roaring of the wind as
+it swept over the land, it was very evident that no boat could live when
+once from under its shelter.
+
+The captain, accompanied by three gun-room officers, Rayner and another
+midshipman, and twenty men, landed at the nearest spot where the boats
+could put in, and proceeded overland in the direction from which the
+sound of the guns had come.
+
+Again and again they boomed forth through the midnight air.  Solemnly
+they struck on the ear, telling of danger and death.  Scarcely, however,
+had the party proceeded a quarter of a mile than they ceased.  In vain
+they were listened for.  It was too evident that the ship had struck the
+fatal rocks, and if so, there was not a moment to be lost, or too
+probably the whole of the hapless crew would be lost.
+
+The western shore was reached at last.  As they approached the cliffs
+they saw a number of people moving about, and as they got to the bay and
+looked down over the foaming ocean, they could see a dark object some
+fifty fathoms off, from which proceeded piercing shrieks and cries for
+help.  It was the hull of a large ship, hove on her beam-ends, her masts
+gone, the after-part already shattered and rent by the fierce seas which
+dashed furiously against her, threatening to sweep off the miserable
+wretches clinging to the bulwarks and stanchions.  To form a
+communication with her was Captain Martin's first object.  As yet it was
+evident that no attempt of the sort had been made, most of the people
+who had collected being more eager apparently to secure the casks,
+chests, and other things thrown on shore than to assist their perishing
+fellow-creatures.  It was vain to shout and direct the people on the
+wreck to attach a line to a cask and let it float in towards the beach.
+The most stentorian voices could not make themselves heard when sent in
+the teeth of the gale now blowing.  On descending the cliffs, Captain
+Martin and his party found a narrow strip of beach, on which they could
+stand out of the power of the seas, which, in quick succession, came
+foaming and roaring in towards them.  He immediately ordered a couple of
+rockets to be let off, to show the strangers that there were those on
+shore who were ready to help them.  No signal was fired in return, not
+even a lantern shown, but the crashing, rending sounds which came from
+the wreck made it too evident that she could not much longer withstand
+the furious assaults of the raging ocean.  Captain Martin inquired
+whether any of his crew were sufficiently good swimmers to reach the
+wreck.
+
+Rayner longed to say that he would try, but he had never swum in a heavy
+sea, and felt that it would be madness to make the attempt.
+
+"I'll try it, sir," cried Ben Twinch, the boatswain's mate, one of the
+most powerful men in the ship.  "I'd like, howsomdever, to have a line
+round my waist.  Do you stand by, mates, and haul me back if I don't
+make way; there are some ugly bits of timber floating about, and one of
+them may give me a lick on the head, and I shan't know what's
+happening."
+
+Ben's offer was accepted.  While the coil of line was being got ready, a
+large spar, to which a couple of men were clinging, was seen floating in
+towards the beach, but it was still at some distance, and there was a
+fearful probability that before it touched the shore the reflux of the
+water might drag them off to destruction.
+
+"Quick, lads, quick, and I'll try to get hold of one or both of them, if
+I can," cried Ben, fastening the rope round his body.  His example was
+followed by another man, who, in the same way, secured a rope round
+himself, when both plunged in and seized the well-nigh drowning
+strangers, just as, utterly exhausted, they had let go their hold.  They
+were able, however, to speak, and Rayner discovered that they were
+French.
+
+By the captain's directions he inquired the name of the ship.
+
+"The _Zenobie_ frigate, of forty guns and three hundred and forty men,"
+was the answer.  "We had an action yesterday with an English frigate,
+which made off while we were repairing damages, but truly she so knocked
+us about that when we were caught by the gale our masts went over the
+side, and we were driven utterly helpless on this terrible coast."
+
+Rayner did not tell the _Thisbe's_ men, who were trying to assist the
+hapless strangers, that they were their late antagonists.  He merely
+said, "They are Frenchmen, lads; but I'm sure that will make no
+difference to any of us."
+
+"I should think not, whether they're Mynheers or Mounseers," cried Ben.
+"They're drowning, and want our help; so, whether enemies or friends,
+we'll try to haul as many of the poor fellows ashore as we can get hold
+of, and give them dry jackets, and a warm welcome afterwards.  Slack
+away, mates!"  And he plunged into the foaming billows.
+
+His progress was anxiously watched as he rose now on the top of a
+roaring sea, now concealed as he sank into the hollow to appear again on
+the side of another, all the time buffeting the foaming breakers, now
+avoiding a mass of timber, now grasping a spar, and making it support
+him as he forced his way onward, until he was lost to sight in the
+gloom.
+
+After a considerable time of intense anxiety it was found that the line
+was taut.  Ben had, it was supposed, reached the forechains of the
+frigate.  Then the question rose, whether he would be able to make
+himself understood by the Frenchmen.  One of the men, however, who had
+been washed on shore said that he believed one or two people on board
+understood English; but it was doubtful whether they were among those
+who had already perished.
+
+Some more minutes passed, and then they felt the line shaken.  It was
+the signal for them to haul in.  Rapidly pulling away, they at length
+had the satisfaction of finding the end of a stout hawser, with a
+smaller line attached to it.  The hawser was made fast round a rock,
+then, knowing the object of the line, they hauled away at it until they
+saw a cradle coming along with a couple of boys in it.  The moment they
+were taken out the cradle was hauled back, and then a man appeared, and
+thus, one after another, about sixty of the French crew were dragged on
+shore.
+
+Every time the cradle appeared, his shipmates hoped to see Ben in it;
+but Rayner learned from one of the persons in it that he had remained on
+the wreck, assisting those who were too benumbed or bewildered with fear
+to secure themselves.
+
+As the poor Frenchmen were landed, they were placed under charge of some
+of the men appointed for the purpose, while two of the officers supplied
+the most exhausted with such restoratives as they required.
+
+Many, they said, had already been washed off the wreck and been lost,
+while others were too much paralysed by fear even to make their way to
+where Ben was standing, lashed to a stanchion, ready to help them into
+the cradle.
+
+Great fears were now entertained lest he should suffer by his noble
+exertions to save others.  The crashing and rending sounds increased in
+frequency.  Every instant some huge portion of the wreck was rent away,
+and the whole intervening mass of seething waters was covered by dark
+fragments of timber, tossing and rolling as they approached the beach,
+or were floated out to sea, or cast against the rocks.  Still the
+Frenchmen kept arriving.  Now one more daring than the others would
+crawl along the cable in spite of the risk of being washed off by the
+hungry breakers into which it was occasionally plunged.
+
+Rayner, who stood on the rock with a party engaged in assisting the
+people as they arrived in the cradle, inquired whether there were many
+more to come.
+
+"I think so, monsieur," was the answer; "we mustered nearly four hundred
+souls, but of those, alas! numbers have already been washed away."
+
+Again and again those fearful crashings, mingled with despairing
+shrieks, were heard above the roar of wild breakers.  Rayner felt
+serious apprehensions about the safety of brave Ben.
+
+At any moment the wreck might break up, and then it would be scarcely
+possible for a human being to exist amidst the masses of timber which
+would be hurled wildly about.
+
+Again the cradle was to be hauled in.  In came with greater difficulty
+than before, as if it carried a heavier weight.  It seemed as if the
+cable would not bear the additional strain.
+
+The British seamen exerted all their strength, for at any moment, even
+if the cable did not break, it might be torn from its holdfast on the
+wreck.  As the cradle came in, two men were seen seated in it, one
+holding another in his arms.  Rayner heard the words, "Vite, vite, mon
+ami, ou nous sommes perdu."
+
+"Haul away, lads, haul away!" he shouted out, though his men required no
+urging.
+
+Just as the cradle was reaching the rock, a crash, even louder than its
+predecessors, was heard.  Several men sprang forward to grasp the
+occupants of the cradle.  The outer end of the rope had given way, and
+in another instant they would have been too late.
+
+Again the wild shrieks of despair of the helpless wretches who still
+remained on the wreck echoed along the cliffs.
+
+"Poor Ben! has he gone?" exclaimed Rayner.  "No, sir, he's one of those
+we've just got ashore," answered a quarter-master who, with several
+others, had rushed down to help the two men taken out of the cradle, and
+who were now bearing the apparently inanimate body of the boatswain's
+mate up the rock; "the other's a Frenchman by his lingo."
+
+Rayner hurried to the spot, when what was his surprise, as the light of
+the lantern fell on the countenance of the Frenchman last landed, to see
+Pierre's father, Captain Turgot!
+
+Putting out his hand, he warmly shook that of his old friend, who opened
+his eyes with a look of astonishment, naturally not recognising him.
+
+"Don't you know me, Captain Turgot?" said Rayner.  "I am one of the boys
+you saved when our frigate was blown up."
+
+"What! are you little Bill?" exclaimed the honest fisherman.  "That is
+wonderful.  Then you escaped after all.  I am indeed glad."
+
+There was no time just then, however, for explanations.  Rayner thanked
+his old friend for saving Ben's life.
+
+"I could do nothing else," was the answer.  "He was about to place
+another man in the cradle who had not the courage to get into it by
+himself, when a piece of timber surging up struck both of them, the
+other was swept away, and the brave English sailor would have suffered
+the same fate had I not got hold of him; and then, though I had made up
+my mind to remain to the last, I saw that the only way to save him was
+to bring him myself in the cradle to the shore, and I am thankful that I
+did so.  But my poor countrymen!  There are many still remaining who
+must perish if we cannot get another hawser secured to the wreck."
+
+This was what Captain Martin was now endeavouring to do, but there was
+no one found willing or able to swim back to the wreck.  The danger of
+making the attempt was, indeed, far greater than at first.
+
+Ben was regaining his consciousness; but even had he been uninjured,
+after the exertions he had gone through, he would have been unfit to
+repeat the dangerous exploit.
+
+Captain Turgot offered to try; but when he saw the intermediate space
+through which he would have to pass covered with masses of wreck, he
+acknowledged that it would be impossible to succeed.
+
+The final catastrophe came at last.  A tremendous wave, higher than its
+predecessors, rolled in, apparently lifting the wreck, which, coming
+down again with fearful force upon the rocks, split into a thousand
+fragments.
+
+As the wave, after dashing furiously on the shore, rolled back again, a
+few shattered timbers could alone be perceived, with not a human being
+clinging to them.
+
+Shrieks of despair, heard above the howling tempest, rose from the
+surging water, but they were speedily hushed, and of the struggling
+wretches two men alone, almost exhausted, were thrown by a succeeding
+wave on the shingly beach, together with the bodies of several already
+numbered among the dead.
+
+When Captain Martin came to muster the shipwrecked men saved by his
+exertions, he found that upwards of three hundred of the crew of his
+late antagonist had perished, seventy alone having landed in safety.
+Leaving a party on the beach to watch lest any more should be washed on
+shore, he and the magistrate led the way up the cliff.  The Frenchmen
+followed with downcast hearts, fully believing that they were to be
+treated as prisoners of war.  Some of them, aided by the British seamen,
+carried those who had been too much injured to walk.
+
+After they had arrived at a spot where some shelter was found from the
+fury of the wind, Captain Martin, calling a halt, sent for Rayner, and
+told him to assure the Frenchmen that he did not look upon them as
+enemies or prisoners of war, but rather as unfortunate strangers who,
+having been driven on the English coast by the elements, had a right to
+expect assistance and kind treatment from the inhabitants, and that such
+it was his wish to afford them.
+
+Expressions of gratitude rose from the lips of the Frenchmen when Rayner
+had translated what Captain Martin had said.  The magistrate then
+offered to receive as many as his own house could accommodate, as did
+two gentlemen who had accompanied him, their example being followed by
+other persons, and before morning the whole of the shipwrecked seamen
+were housed, including three or four officers, the only ones saved.  The
+poor fellows endeavoured by every way in their power to show how
+grateful they were for the kindness they were receiving.
+
+Captain Martin's first care was to write an account of the occurrence to
+the Admiralty, stating what he had done, and expressing a hope that the
+shipwrecked crew would be sent back as soon as possible to France.
+
+By return of post, which was not, however, until the end of three or
+four days, Captain Martin had the satisfaction of receiving a letter
+from the king himself, highly approving of his conduct, and directing
+that the Frenchmen should each receive as much clothing and money as
+they required, and as soon as a cartel could be got ready, sent back to
+Cherbourg or some other French port.
+
+News of the battered state of the _Thisbe_ having been received at the
+Admiralty, a frigate was ordered round to escort her into port, as she
+was not in a position to put to sea safely by herself.  The Frenchmen
+having been received on board the two frigates, and a light northerly
+breeze springing up, they sailed together for Plymouth.  The pumps were
+kept going on board the _Thisbe_ during the whole passage, when the
+Frenchmen, at the instigation of Captain Turgot, volunteered to work
+them.
+
+Rayner had many a talk about Pierre with his old friend, who longed to
+embrace his son, and was profuse in his expressions of gratitude for the
+kindness he had received.
+
+Directly he returned on board, Rayner went to Jack, whom he found going
+on well.  Captain Turgot, on hearing that Jack had been wounded, begged
+permission to see him, and from that moment spent every instant he could
+by his side, tending him as if he had been his own son.
+
+It was curious to see the way the English sailors treated their French
+guests who had so lately been engaged with them in a desperate fight.
+Several were suffering from bruises and exposure on the wreck.  These
+were nursed with a tender care, as if they had been women or children,
+the sailors carrying those about whose legs had been hurt, and feeding
+two or three, whose hands or arms had been injured, just as if they had
+been big babies.
+
+The rest of the Frenchmen who had escaped injury quickly recovered their
+spirits, and might have been seen toeing and heeling it at night to the
+sound of Bob Rosin's fiddle; and Bob, a one-legged negro, who performed
+the double duty of cook's second mate and musician-general of the ship,
+was never tired of playing as long as he could get any one to dance.
+The style of performance of the two nationalities was very different,
+but both received their share of applause from one another.  The
+Frenchmen leapt into the air, whirled, bounded and skipped, while the
+British tars did the double-shuffle and performed the various evolutions
+of the hornpipe, to the admiration of their Gallic rivals.
+
+By the time they had reached Plymouth they had won each other's hearts,
+and hands were wrung, and many of the Frenchmen burst into tears as they
+took their leave of their gallant entertainers, all protesting that they
+should always remember their kindness, and expressing the hope that they
+should never meet again except as friends.
+
+Sad it is that men, who would be ever ready to live on friendly terms
+and advance their mutual interests, should, by the ambition and lust of
+power of a few, be compelled to slaughter and injure each other, as has
+unhappily been the case for so many centuries throughout the whole
+civilised portion of the world.
+
+As soon as the anchor was dropped, Rayner asked for leave to go on shore
+with Captain Turgot, to visit Mrs Crofton, and learn how Pierre was
+getting on.
+
+"You may go, but you must return on board at night, as there is plenty
+of work to be done," answered the first lieutenant.
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Rayner; and he hurried below to tell Captain
+Turgot to get ready.
+
+They shoved off by the first boat going on shore.  They walked on
+quickly through the streets of Plymouth, Rayner anticipating the
+pleasure of seeing Mrs Crofton and Mary, and of witnessing the meeting
+between the honest Frenchman and his son.
+
+"I hope that we shall find Pierre recovered; but the doctor said his
+wound would take long to heal, and you must not be surprised if he is
+still unable to move," he said to Captain Turgot.  "Our friends will
+take very good care of him, and perhaps you would like to remain behind
+until he is well."
+
+"I would wish to be with him, but I am anxious to relieve the anxiety of
+Madame Turgot and Jeannette, who, if they do not see me, will suppose
+that I am lost," answered the Captain.  "I shall grieve to leave my boy
+behind, but I know that he will be well cared for, and I cannot tell
+you, my young friend, how grateful I am.  Little did I think, when I
+picked you up out of the water, how amply you would return the service I
+did you."
+
+"I certainly did not expect in any way to be able to repay it," said
+Rayner, "or, to say the truth, to feel the regard for Frenchmen which I
+do for you and your son."
+
+Rayner found Mrs Crofton and her daughter seated in the drawing-room.
+After the first greetings were over, and he had introduced Captain
+Turgot, he inquired after Pierre, expecting, through not seeing him,
+that he was still unable to leave his room.
+
+"He has gone out for a short walk, as the doctor tells him to be in the
+fresh air as much as possible, and he is well able to get along with the
+help of a stick," answered Mrs Crofton.  "I hope his father has not
+come to take him away, for we shall be very sorry to lose him?"
+
+"I don't know whether he will be allowed to go without being exchanged,"
+answered Rayner; and he gave an account of the wreck of the _Zenobie_
+and the arrangement which had been made for sending the survivors of her
+crew back to France.
+
+"That is very kind and generous of our good king.  No wonder that his
+soldiers and sailors are so ready to fight for him," remarked Mrs
+Crofton.
+
+While they were speaking, Pierre entered the house.  His joy at seeing
+his father almost overcame him.  They threw themselves into each other's
+arms and embraced as Frenchmen are accustomed to embrace--somewhat, it
+must be confessed, to Mary's amusement.  After they had become more
+tranquil they sat down and talked away at such a rate that even Rayner
+could scarcely understand what they were saying.  He meantime had a
+pleasant conversation with Mary and her mother, for he had plenty to
+tell them, and they evidently liked to listen to him.
+
+After some time, during a pause in the conversation, Captain Turgot
+desired Pierre to tell Mrs Crofton and her daughter how grateful he
+felt for their kindness, his own knowledge of English being insufficient
+to express his wishes.
+
+They, hearing him, replied in French, and soon the whole party was
+talking away in that language, though Mary's French, it must be
+admitted, was not of a very choice description; but she laughed at her
+own mistakes, and Rayner helped her out when she was in want of a word.
+
+The afternoon passed pleasantly away, and Rayner, looking at his watch,
+was sorry to find it was time to return.  He told Pierre that he must
+report his state to the Captain and Mr Saltwell, who would decide what
+he was to do.
+
+Captain Turgot went back with him, having nowhere else to go.
+
+Captain Martin lost no time in carrying out the wishes of the kind king.
+A brig was chartered as a cartel, on board of which the Frenchmen were
+at once sent.  Rayner was not aware that Mr Saltwell had obtained
+permission for Pierre to go back with his father, and was much surprised
+on being directed to go to Mrs Crofton's, and to escort him on board
+the brig.
+
+Pierre seemed scarcely to know whether to laugh or cry at regaining his
+liberty as he took leave of his kind hostess and her daughter; but his
+desire to see his mother and sister and la belle France finally overcame
+his regret at parting from them, and he quickly got ready to set off.
+
+"We shall be happy to see you as soon as you can come again, Mr
+Rayner," said Mrs Crofton.
+
+"Oh yes," added Mary, in a sweet voice, with a smile, which made our
+hero at once promise that he would lose no opportunity of paying them a
+visit.  Rayner's first duty was to see Captain Turgot and Pierre on
+board the cartel.  They embraced him with tears in their eyes as they
+wished him farewell, and many of the grateful Frenchmen gathered round
+him, several expressing their hopes that France and England would soon
+make up their quarrel.
+
+"What it's all about, ma foi, is more than I or any of us can tell,"
+exclaimed a boatswain's mate, wringing Rayner's hand, which all were
+eager to grasp.  "We are carried on board ship and told to fight, and so
+we fight--more fools we!  If we were wise, we should navigate our
+merchant vessels, or go fishing, or stay at home and cultivate our
+fields and gardens.  We all hope that there'll be peace when we next
+meet, messieurs."
+
+Many others echoed the sentiment, and cheered Rayner, who, after he had
+sent many kind messages to Madame Turgot and Jeannette, hurried down the
+side and returned on board the frigate.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
+
+THE SHIP ON FIRE.
+
+Jack, with the rest of those who had been wounded, had been sent to the
+hospital.  Rayner the next day obtained leave to visit him.  He was
+sorry for Tom, who was thus left very much to his own resources, and he
+tried to find an opportunity of speaking a kind word to his former
+companion; but Tom, as before, sulkily kept aloof, so that he was
+compelled to leave him to himself.  He was very sorry, soon after, to
+see him being led along the deck by the master-at-arms.  Tom looked
+dreadfully downcast and frightened.
+
+Rayner inquired what he had been doing.
+
+"Attempting to desert, sir," was the answer.  "He had got on shore and
+had dressed himself in a smock-frock and carter's hat, and was making
+his way out of the town."
+
+Tom could not deny the accusation, and he was placed in irons, awaiting
+his punishment, with two other men who had also run from the ship and
+had been caught.
+
+Rayner felt a sincere compassion for his old messmate, and obtained
+leave to pay him a visit, anxious to ascertain if there were any
+extenuating circumstances by which he might obtain a remission of his
+punishment.
+
+"What made you try to run, Fletcher?" he asked, as he found Tom and his
+two companions seated in "durance vile," on the deck.
+
+"I wanted to go back to my father and to try and persuade him to get me
+made a midshipman as you are," answered Tom.  "It's a shame that a
+gentleman's son should be treated as I have been, and made a powder
+monkey of, while you have been placed on the quarter-deck."
+
+"I thought that you had applied to your father before, and that he had
+refused to interfere," said Rayner, taking no notice of Tom's remark in
+regard to himself.
+
+"I know that, well enough; but it was my brother who answered the
+letter; and, as my father is a clever man, I daresay by this time he has
+become rich again, and, for very shame at having a son of his a common
+ship's boy, would do as I wish.  Can't you tell the captain that, and
+perhaps he'll excuse me the flogging?  It's very hard to be prevented
+seeing my family, and to be flogged into the bargain.  It's more than I
+can bear, and I've a great mind to jump overboard and drown myself when
+I get my wrists out of these irons."
+
+"You'll not do that," answered Rayner, knowing very well that Tom did
+not dream of putting his threat into execution; "but I'll tell the first
+lieutenant what you say about your wish to see your family, though I
+fear it will not influence him in recommending the captain to remit your
+punishment.  I would advise you, whatever happens, to submit, and to
+try, by doing your duty, to gain a good name for yourself," said Rayner,
+who gave him some other sound advice before he returned on deck.
+
+Mr Saltwell shook his head when he heard what Rayner had to say.
+
+"The captain won't forgive him, you may depend upon that, Rayner," he
+answered; "desertion must be punished, were it only as a warning to
+others."
+
+Rayner, fortunately for himself, was on shore when Tom underwent his
+punishment, so that he was saved the pain of seeing it inflicted.
+
+The frigate had been surveyed, but what opinion had been formed about
+her was not known for some time.  At length the captain, who had gone on
+shore, returned, and, mustering the ship's company, informed them that,
+according to the surveyor's report, it would take some months to put her
+in thorough repair, and that in the meantime he had been appointed to
+the command of the store-ship _Bombay Castle_, of sixty-four guns, bound
+for the Mediterranean, and he should take his officers and crew with
+him.  "We all of us might wish for more active service, my lads, but we
+shall not be long absent, and I hope by the time we come back that we
+shall find our tight little frigate as ready for any duty she may be
+sent on, as you all, I am sure, will be."
+
+A cheer was the reply to this address, and the next day the officers and
+crew of the _Thisbe_ went on board their new ship.  They had, however,
+first to get her ready for sea, and then to receive the stores on board,
+by which time several of the wounded men, including Jack Peek, had
+sufficiently recovered to join her.
+
+The _Bombay Castle_ was rolling her away across the Bay of Biscay with a
+northerly breeze.  She was a very different craft from the _Thisbe_, and
+though more than twice her size, not nearly so comfortable.  Captain
+Martin had received orders to avoid an engagement, except attacked, and
+then to do his best to escape, as the stores she carried were of great
+value, and were much required by the fleet.  Though several sail were
+sighted supposed to be an enemy's squadron, she managed to escape from
+them, and arrived safe at Gibraltar.  Here she was joined by the _Ione_
+frigate, and the two ships sailed together, expecting to fall in with
+the fleet off Toulon.
+
+The two ships lay almost becalmed in the Gulf of Lyons.  Several
+officers of the _Ione_, which was only a short distance off, had come on
+board, when Captain Martin advised them, somewhat to their surprise, to
+get back to the frigate.
+
+"I don't quite like the look of the weather," he remarked.  "I've seen
+the masts of a ship whipped out of her, when not five minutes before
+there was no more wind than we have at present."
+
+The frigate's boat left the side and was seen pulling rapidly towards
+her.  Suddenly the cry was heard, "All hands on deck to save ship!"
+
+Those who were below, springing up, found the ship heeling over till her
+yard-arms almost touched the foaming water, which came rushing over the
+deck, while the watch were engaged in letting fly tacks and sheets,
+lowering topsails, clewing up, and hauling down, blocks were rattling,
+sails shivering, the wind roaring, the sea leaping, hissing, and
+foaming.  The helm was put up, the ship righted, and away she flew
+before the furious blast, not having suffered any material damage.
+
+The _Ione_, however, could nowhere be seen.  Struck by the squall, she
+might either have been dismasted or have capsized.  In the former case
+it was very probable that she might fall into the hands of the enemy;
+but, much as the captain desired it, he could not return to her
+assistance.
+
+Night came on, and the gale increased, the big ship tumbling and rolling
+about almost as much as she would have done in the Atlantic, so rapidly
+did the sea get up.  It took some time to get everything snug, but as
+the ship was at a considerable distance from the land, no great anxiety
+was felt for her safety.
+
+In the morning the master reported that by his calculation they were
+about thirteen leagues south-east of Cape Saint Sebastian, on the
+Spanish coast.
+
+The wind had fallen with almost the same rapidity with which it had
+risen, but there was still a good deal of sea on.  It had now shifted.
+The first lieutenant was officer of the watch, and was superintending
+the operation of washing decks.
+
+Rayner, and another midshipman, also with bare feet and trousers tucked
+up, were paddling about, directing the men in their various duties.
+
+Our hero had just came aft, and was addressing Mr Saltwell, when the
+latter looking forward, suddenly exclaimed, "What can that smoke be?
+Run and see where it comes from!"
+
+As Rayner hurried forward he observed a thick volume of smoke rising out
+of the fore-hatchway, and immediately afterwards a similar ominous cloud
+ascended from the main hatchway.  Before he had made a step aft to
+report this he saw Mr Saltwell hastening forward.
+
+The next moment the cry of "Fire!" was raised, and the people came
+rushing up the hatchway in the midst of volumes of smoke ascending from
+the orlop deck.
+
+"Rayner, go and inform the captain what has occurred," said Mr
+Saltwell, in a calm tone.  "Let the drum beat to quarters!" he shouted.
+
+The rolling sound of the drum was soon heard along the decks, and the
+men, springing from all parts of the ship, hurried to their respective
+stations, where they stood, ready for their orders.
+
+Not a cry was heard.  Not an expression of alarm escaped from one of the
+men.  Scarcely a word was spoken as they stood prepared to do their
+duty.
+
+Summoning the gunner and the boatswain, the first lieutenant ordered the
+former to open the ports, to give light and air below, and the latter to
+pipe up the hammocks.  He then ascended to the orlop deck, made his way
+first into one tier, then into another, in both of which he found the
+smoke issuing exceedingly thick from forward.  He was now joined by the
+second lieutenant and Rayner.
+
+"We'll just go into the sail-room and ascertain if the fire is there,"
+he said.
+
+On reaching it, there was no appearance of fire or smoke.  It was thus
+evident that the seat of the fire was farther forward.  He and his
+companions next proceeded to the hold, but the dense smoke compelled
+them to beat a retreat, as their throats became affected as if from the
+fumes of hot tar.  A second attempt to reach the hold was equally
+unsuccessful.  The entire absence of heat, however, convinced them that
+the fire could not be in that part of the ship, but that the smoke found
+its way through the bulkheads.
+
+They were returning on deck, when a cry was raised that the fire was
+down forward.
+
+"I alone will go!" said Mr Saltwell.  "Not a life must be risked
+without necessity.  Remain, and render me any assistance I may require."
+
+Having descended to the orlop deck, he was attempting to go down into
+the cockpit, when several men rushed by him, crying out that the fire
+was increasing.  He endeavoured to retreat, but would have fallen before
+he reached the deck, had not the second lieutenant and Rayner, springing
+forward, assisted him up, and the next moment he sank down, apparently
+lifeless.
+
+It was some minutes before the fresh air revived him.
+
+Two poor fellows were suffocated by the smoke rolling in dense volumes
+along the lower deck, and others were rescued half dead by their
+shipmates.
+
+Some short time was of necessity lost while the captain and master and
+the lieutenants were holding a consultation as to what was to be done.
+
+In the meantime, Rayner, seeing the importance of discovering the seat
+of the fire, resolved at every risk to make the attempt.  Without
+telling any of the officers of his intention, he called on Ben Twinch
+and Jack and Tom, whom he met on his way, to accompany him, and to bring
+a long rope with him.  On reaching the hatchway he fastened the end
+round his waist.
+
+"Haul me up if you find it becomes slack," he said.  "You'll know then
+that I am not able to get on."
+
+"Don't go, sir! don't go!" cried Jack.  "It won't matter to any one if I
+get choked, but so many would be sorry if anything happened to you."
+
+"I'll tell you what it is, Mr Rayner," exclaimed Ben; "no man who
+hasn't been down to the bottom of Stromboli or down Etna will be able to
+live two minutes in the cockpit, and I cannot help you, sir, to throw
+your life away.  The ship's on fire somewhere forward, and what we've
+got to do is to pump the water over it, and try and put it out.  If we
+can't do that, we must shut down the hatches, and see if we can't
+smother it."
+
+Rayner was not inclined to listen to this well-meant and really
+judicious advice, but rushing forward, was attempting to make his way
+down the ladder.  Scarcely, however, had he descended three or four
+steps, when the smoke filling his mouth and nostrils, he would have
+fallen headlong down had not Ben and Jack hauled him up again, almost in
+the same condition as Mr Saltwell had been.
+
+"I told you so, sir," said Ben, as he carried him out of the way of the
+hose, which now began to play over the spot, under the direction of Mr
+Saltwell.  The water, however, seemed to make no impression on the fire,
+or in any way to lessen the volumes of smoke, which, on the contrary,
+became thicker and thicker.
+
+The men who were directing the hose were compelled to retire.  The
+carpenters had, in the meantime, been engaged in scuttling the orlop
+deck, so that water might be poured down in great quantities.  All their
+efforts were of no avail, however.
+
+In a short time the first lieutenant was heard issuing his orders to
+cover in the hatchways, and to close the ports, so as to prevent the
+circulation of air.
+
+With a sad heart Mr Saltwell now went on deck to report to the captain
+what had been done.  He spoke in a low and earnest tone.
+
+"I am afraid, Captain Martin, that we cannot hope to save the ship," he
+said; "the fire may be kept under for an hour or perhaps two hours, but
+if it once makes its way through the hatchways and gets to the lower
+decks, there is nothing to stop it.  I would strongly advise that the
+boats should at once be got ready, so that as many lives as possible may
+be preserved."
+
+"Were we to do that, the people would immediately fancy that the
+destruction of the ship is certain, and abandon themselves to despair,"
+said the captain.
+
+"I know our men, and can answer for their doing their duty," replied Mr
+Saltwell, with confidence.  "If we delay getting out the boats, we may
+find it impossible to do so at last, and the lives of all on board may
+be sacrificed.  We can trust to the marines, and give them directions to
+prevent any of the men getting into the boats until you issue the order
+for them to do so."
+
+"You are right, Saltwell; send the sergeant of marines here," said the
+captain.
+
+The sergeant quickly appeared and stood bolt upright, with his hand to
+the peak of his hat, as if on parade, ready to receive any orders which
+might be given.
+
+"Call out your men, and understand that they are to load with ball and
+shoot any of the seamen who get into the boats without orders."
+
+The sergeant, saluting, faced about, as if going to perform some
+ordinary routine of duty, and, quickly mustering his marines, stationed
+them as directed.  The first lieutenant now gave orders to the boatswain
+to turn the hands up, and as soon as they appeared on deck, he shouted,
+"Out boats! but understand, my lads, that not one of you is to enter
+them without leave.  The marines have received orders to shoot the first
+man who attempts to do so, though you do not require to be told that."
+
+The crew hastened to the tackles and falls, and with the most perfect
+regularity the boats were lowered into the water when they were veered
+astern and secured for towing.  The helm was now put down, the yards
+braced up, and the ship's head directed to the north-west, in which
+direction the land lay, though not visible from the deck.
+
+The crew knew by this that the captain and officers considered the ship
+to be in great danger, and at the same time it encouraged them to
+persevere in their attempts to keep the fire under.  They had some hopes
+also of falling in with the _Ione_ or by firing the guns to attract her
+attention, should she be within hearing of them.
+
+As the boats, however, would not carry the whole ship's company, the
+captain directed the carpenter and his mates to get the booms overboard
+for the purpose of constructing a raft large enough to support those
+whom the boats could not carry.
+
+As it was now evident, from the increasing volumes of smoke which
+ascended through the hatchways, that the fire was working its way aft,
+although the flames had not yet burst out, it became of the greatest
+importance to get the powder out of the magazine.  For this purpose the
+second lieutenant descended with a party of men, and succeeded in
+bringing up a considerable quantity, which was stowed in the stern
+gallery.  All the other hands, not otherwise employed, were engaged
+under the different officers in heaving water down the hatchways; but
+the smoke increased to such a degree that they were compelled to desist,
+several who persevered falling senseless on the deck.  The powder which
+had been got up being hove into the sea, the captain gave the order to
+drown the magazine.  The difficulty of accomplishing this task was,
+however, very great, and the second lieutenant and gunner, with several
+of the men, were drawn up, apparently lifeless, after making the
+attempt.  Lieutenant Saltwell now again descended to the after cockpit,
+where he found one man alone still persevering in the hazardous duty--
+Ben Twinch, boatswain's mate.
+
+"A few more buckets, and we'll do it, sir!" cried Ben; but almost
+immediately afterwards he sank down exhausted.
+
+The lieutenant, singing out for a rope, fastened it round him, though
+feeling that he himself would be overpowered before the gallant seaman
+could be drawn up.  He succeeded, however, and once more returned to the
+deck above.  Still, he knew that a large quantity of powder remained
+dry, and that should the fire reach the magazine, the destruction of all
+on board would be inevitable.  Although gasping for breath, he was about
+again to descend, when a light, active figure, with a rope round his
+waist, darted passed him, and he recognised Rayner.  He was about to
+follow, when he heard the voice of the midshipman shouting, "Haul me up,
+quick!"
+
+The next instant Rayner was drawn up, too much exhausted to speak.  He
+had succeeded in drowning a portion of the powder; but a quantity
+remained, sufficient at any moment to blow the ship into the air.
+
+Although no human being could exist between the decks forward, the
+after-part of the lower deck remained free from smoke.  In the hopes of
+getting at the magazine, the carpenter was directed to cut scuttles
+through the ward-room, and gun-room, so as to get down right above it.
+By keeping all the doors closed, the smoke was prevented from entering,
+and at length it was found that the powder could be drawn, up and hove
+overboard out of the gallery windows.  Several of the officers
+volunteered for this dangerous duty.  Rayner, notwithstanding that he
+had just before escaped suffocation, again twice descended, and was each
+time drawn up more dead than alive.  Several hours had now gone by, and
+the wind providentially holding fair, the ship was nearing the land.
+Meantime, the fire was fast gaining on them, and might at any moment
+triumph over all the heroic efforts of the crew to subdue it.  The heat
+below was intense.  The first lieutenant, going forward, found that the
+hatches had been blown off, as also the tarpaulins placed over the
+gratings.  As it was of the greatest importance to keep them on, he
+directed the carpenter, with as many men as could be obtained, to
+replace them, while he returned once more aft, to superintend the
+operation of getting up the powder.
+
+Although hitherto none of the men had attempted to shirk their duty,
+greatly to his annoyance he saw, on looking out of the ward-room
+windows, the stern ladders covered with people, who fancied that they
+would there be more secure, and escape discovery.
+
+At once bursting open a window he ordered them all up, and directed
+Rayner to go and see that they made their appearance on deck.  Among one
+of the first who came creeping up, our hero discovered his former
+messmate Tom Fletcher.
+
+"You people have disgraced yourselves.  Fletcher, I am sorry to have to
+say the same to you," he exclaimed.
+
+It was the first time he had ever openly found fault with his former
+companion, but his feelings compelled him to utter the words.
+
+Tom, and the whole of the men who had been on the ladders, sneaked away
+on either side, ashamed, at all events, of being found out, and still
+looking with longing eyes at the boats astern.  Every now and then a
+seaman was brought aft and placed under the doctor's care, but of the
+number four were found to be past recovery, and it seemed doubtful
+whether several others would revive.
+
+The greater portion of the crew, under the direction of the officers,
+were vieing with each other, trying to keep down the flames.
+
+The wind shifted a point or two more in their favour.  The captain
+immediately ordered the hands aloft, to set the topgallant sails and
+royals.
+
+Seven anxious hours had passed, when while the men were still aloft, the
+cry arose, "Land, land, on the weather bow!"
+
+The men on deck cheered at the announcement.  In a short time it could
+be observed through the haze right ahead.  The sight, though the land
+was still five leagues distant, revived the sinking spirits of the crew,
+and spurred them on to greater exertions.  Still, notwithstanding all
+their efforts, the fire rapidly increased.  Again and again efforts were
+made to clear the magazine, but the smoke as often drove the men back.
+By this time the whole of the fore part of the lower deck was on fire,
+but owing to the ports being closed and all circulation of air
+prevented, the flames did not rise with the rapidity which would
+otherwise have been the case.  The fear was that, the heels of the masts
+being consumed by the fire, the masts themselves might fall.
+
+Still they stood right gallantly, carrying their widespread canvas, and
+urging on the ship to the wished-for shore.
+
+By this time all communication with the fore part of the ship was cut
+off.  The crew were gathered aft, still actively employed in fighting
+the flames by heaving down water.  But foot by foot they were driven
+towards the stern.
+
+At length the devouring element burst through all control, and rushed up
+the fore-hatchway, rising triumphantly as high as the foreyard.  Yet the
+ship kept on her way.
+
+The men remained firm to their duty.  Now, not only from the fore, but
+from the main hatchway, the flames were seen to ascend, but for some
+time, the courses having been thoroughly wetted, they stood still urging
+on the ship towards the land.
+
+Time went on.  The fire had commenced at seven in the morning, it was
+now several hours past noon.  For all that period the crew had been
+fighting desperately with the fiery element for their lives.  Anxiously,
+with straining eyes, they gazed at the land.  On either side a dark mass
+of smoke ascended before them, and blew away to leeward, while the lurid
+flames rose beneath it, striving furiously for victory over the masts
+and spars, sails and rigging.  It seemed like a miracle that the masts
+should stand in the midst of the hot furnace which glowed far down the
+depths of the ship.  All were aware that at any moment one of several
+fearful events might occur.  The wind might shift and prevent the ship
+reaching the land ahead, or a gale might spring up and cast the ship
+helplessly upon the rocks, or a calm might come on and delay her
+progress, or the masts, burnt through, might fall and crush those on
+deck, or, still more dreadful, a spark might reach the magazine, and her
+immediate destruction must follow.
+
+Still the officers and crew strove on, though they well knew that no
+human power could extinguish the raging flames, which with sullen roar
+came nearer and nearer to where they stood.
+
+An alarm was given that the mizenmast was on fire in the captain's
+cabin, and as Rayner looked over the side, he could see the flames burst
+out of the lee ports.  The guns had not been loaded, but there was no
+necessity to fire signals of distress.  The condition of the ship could
+be seen from far along the shore, and it was hoped that boats would, as
+she drew near, put off to her assistance.
+
+The master, some time before, had brought up a chart on deck, and now
+pointed out to his brother officers the exact spot towards which the
+ship was steering.  It was the Bay of Rosas.  Already the ship was
+entering between two capes which formed its northern and southern sides.
+The captain stood in the midst of his officers and men, gathered on
+deck, for every place below was filled with smoke, and, except in the
+after-part of the ship, the raging flames had gained full mastery.
+
+His wish had been to reach the shore before any one quitted the ship; he
+now saw that to do this was impossible.
+
+"My lads," he said, "I am about to order up the boats.  You have
+hitherto maintained your discipline; let me see that you are ready to
+obey orders to the last.  And now we'll have the raft overboard, which
+will carry every man who cannot be stowed in the boats, even if the
+Spaniards don't come out to help us.  Lower away."
+
+It was no easy matter to perform this operation, with the fire raging
+uncontrolled not many feet off, almost scorching the backs of the men
+standing nearest it.
+
+A cheer announced that it had safely reached the water, when the
+carpenter and his crew, with a few additional hands, were ordered on to
+it, to secure the booms on either side, so as to increase its power of
+supporting a heavy weight.
+
+Scarcely had this been done, and the launch ordered up under the stern,
+than the ship struck and remained immovable, though nearly a mile from
+the shore.  Then the tall masts seemed to sway to and fro as if they
+were about to fall, though it might only have been fancy.
+
+The marines, who had faithfully performed their duty, were stationed on
+either side, while the sick and several of the wounded were lowered into
+the launch.  The boys and younger midshipmen were next directed to go
+down the ladder, and the other men were told off.  The two yawls and
+jolly-boat being hauled up, were then loaded with as many as they could
+carry.
+
+"May I stay by you, sir?" asked Rayner of Mr Saltwell.
+
+"No, Rayner," answered the first lieutenant; "you have done your duty
+well this day, and I cannot allow you to risk your life by remaining a
+moment longer than is necessary.  We cannot tell when the ship may blow
+up.  It may be before the captain and I quit her.  I order you to go."
+
+Rayner obeyed and descended into one of the yawls.  Looking towards the
+shore he saw several boats coming off.  He pointed them out to the
+officer in command of the launch.  "Tell them to come under the stern of
+the ship and take off the remainder of the crew," said the lieutenant.
+
+While the yawl was pulling towards the Spanish boats, he looked round to
+the ship.  Already it appeared as if the flames were rushing from every
+port, while they were rising higher and higher, forming a vast pyramid
+of fire, as circling round and round the masts they caught hold of the
+canvas and rigging, and seized the spars in their embrace.
+
+He urged the crew to pull with all their strength, that they might the
+sooner return to the assistance of their friends.  The Spanish boats
+were reached, but in vain he endeavoured to persuade their crews to come
+near the burning ship.  They were ready enough to receive on board the
+people in the yawl, but not to risk their lives by approaching her.
+
+One of the officers could speak a little Spanish, and Rayner tried his
+French upon them, endeavouring to persuade them, and at length
+threatening condign punishment if they refused.  But nothing that could
+be said had any effect.  Time was precious, so, putting the men from the
+crowded yawl into one of the boats, Rayner, who took charge of her,
+urging the men to pull with all their might steered back for the ship.
+From the position in which the boat was, between her head and the shore,
+she appeared already to be one mass of flame.  It seemed impossible
+indeed that any human being could still be alive on board.  Pulling
+round, however, so as to approach the stern, Rayner saw that the after
+portion still remained free from flame, though the crew, as if they knew
+that there was no time to be lost, were not only descending the ladders,
+but sliding rapidly down the ropes hanging over the taffrail on to the
+raft.  They had good reason for doing so, for he could see the ruddy
+light even through the stern windows, and from every port, except the
+extreme after ones, the flames were rushing out.
+
+Three figures alone stood on the poop; they were those of the captain,
+the first lieutenant, and master, who had maintained their perilous
+position until every living man was out of the ship.
+
+Remembering the remark Mr Saltwell had made just before he had quitted
+the ship, Rayner again urged on his well-nigh exhausted crew to pull up
+and rescue their brave officers.  The raft was crowded with men.  The
+shout rose, "Shove off! shove off!" and with broken spars and pieces of
+board, those on it were endeavouring to make their way to a distance
+from the side of the ship.
+
+Rayner steered his boat under the stern.  The master was the first to
+descend, Mr Saltwell came next, and the captain was the last to leave
+her.
+
+"Pull away, Rayner," he said, in a calm voice.  "We have reason to be
+thankful to Providence that she has not blown up yet, for at any moment
+the fire may reach the magazine, and there is still powder enough, I
+understand, to send the fragments far around."
+
+The first yawl having received on board several people from the land,
+took the raft in tow.  In a short time the other boats returned, having
+placed the people they carried in the Spanish boats, several of which
+also arrived, though they lost not a moment in pulling again towards the
+shore, as far as they could from the burning ship.
+
+The captain directed Rayner to keep astern of the other boats.  His eye
+rested on his ship as if he desired to see her as long as she existed.
+The moment of her destruction came at last.  The rest of the crew having
+landed, the yawl was nearing the shore, when a loud roar was heard as if
+a whole broadside had been fired.  The flames rose high in the air; the
+masts shot upwards surrounded by burning fragments of planks and
+timbers; the stout sides, rent asunder, rushed outwards, and in another
+minute a few blackened fragments of the gallant ship, which had that
+morning floated trim and proudly on the ocean, were alone visible.
+
+Captain Martin looked sad and grave as he stepped on shore; but he felt
+that he, as well as his officers, had done their duty, and had made
+every possible effort to preserve the ship.  Neither he nor they could
+discover the cause of the fire.
+
+Fortunately, England had not then declared war against Spain, and the
+authorities received the British officers and men in a friendly manner,
+while many of the inhabitants of the neighbouring town vied with each
+other in rendering them all the service in their power.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
+
+A NARROW ESCAPE--HOME--AN ACTION SUDDENLY ENDED.
+
+The morning after the day they landed in Spain, Rayner had gone down to
+the beach with Mr Saltwell, who wanted, he said, to have another look
+at the remains of the old barkie.  The midshipman was examining the
+black ribs of the wreck appearing above water through the telescope
+which the lieutenant had lent him, when the latter exclaimed, "Do you
+see a sail away to the south-east?"
+
+The sun glanced for a moment on her canvas.
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Rayner.  "She's a large craft, too, for I can only
+just see her royals rising above the horizon.  She's standing in this
+direction."
+
+"Hand me the glass," said Mr Saltwell.  "You are right, youngster," he
+continued, looking through it.  "I only hope that she may be one of our
+own cruisers, but it will be some time before that point can be
+decided."
+
+After watching the approaching stranger for some time the lieutenant and
+midshipman returned with the intelligence to the farm-house where the
+captain and several of the other officers were quartered.
+
+Hoping that she might be the _Ione_, Captain Martin ordered the first
+yawl to be got ready to go off to her.  The crew were then mustered.
+Eight did not answer to their names.  It was known how five had died,
+but what had become of the other three?  At length it was whispered
+among the men that they had managed to get drinking the previous night,
+and had fallen below, stupefied by the smoke.
+
+The men having breakfasted, the greater number hurried down to the shore
+to have a look at the stranger, now approaching under all sail.
+
+Three cheers were uttered as the flag of England flew out at her peak.
+The captain immediately ordered Mr Sterling to pull off to her, and to
+request that his officers and ship's company might be received on board.
+
+"You will make sure before you get near that she is English," he
+whispered.  "The Frenchman may have a fancy to take some Spaniards
+prisoners, and would be better pleased to get hold of you."
+
+Rayner went as midshipman of the boat, which made good way towards the
+frigate now lying hove-to about three miles from the shore.
+
+"What do you think of her, Noakes?" asked the lieutenant of the
+coxswain, as they got nearer.
+
+The old seaman took a steady glance at the stranger, surveying her from
+truck to water-line.
+
+"If she doesn't carry a British crew, the Frenchmen must have got hold
+of her since we parted company three days ago, and I don't think that's
+likely, or there would be not a few shot-holes in her canvas, and a
+pretty good sprinkling in her hull, too," he answered, in a confident
+tone.  "She's the _Ione_, sir, or I don't know a frigate from a Dutch
+dogger."
+
+Now certain that there was no mistake, Mr Sterling steered for the
+frigate.  Pulling alongside, he and Rayner stepped on board.  Captain
+Dickson, with most of his officers, were on deck.
+
+"Where is your ship?" was the first question the captain asked of the
+lieutenant.
+
+"There is all that remains of her," answered Mr Sterling, pointing to
+the blackened ribs of the ship, which could be distinguished through a
+telescope near the shore; and he gave an account of what had happened.
+
+Due regrets at the occurrence having been expressed, Captain Dickson
+saying that he had been induced to stand into the bay in consequence of
+hearing the sound of the explosion, at once ordered out all the boats,
+and in a few minutes they were pulling for the shore, accompanied by the
+yawl.
+
+The _Ione_, meantime, was standing in somewhat nearer, to be ready to
+receive the crew of the store-ship on board.
+
+No time was lost in embarking, and it was with intense satisfaction that
+Captain Martin and those under him found themselves again on the deck of
+an English frigate.
+
+Sail was at once made for Gibraltar, Malta not having at that time been
+taken possession of by the English.  As the two ships' companies had to
+be stowed away below, they were compelled to pack pretty closely, but no
+one minded that, as they expected a speedy passage to the Rock, while
+the officers and crew of the store-ship hoped immediately to be sent
+back to England.
+
+It is too true a saying that "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the
+lip."  The _Ione_ was about midway between the Spanish coast and
+Majorca, when, as morning broke, a number of ships were seen standing
+out from the direction of Minorca.  At first it was supposed that they
+were part of the English fleet, but after two of the lieutenants had
+taken a careful survey of them from aloft, it was decided that they were
+French.
+
+"They have seen us, and guess what we are," observed Captain Dickson to
+his brother captain.  "See, here come two frigates in chase.  Turn the
+hands up and make sail!" he added, addressing the first lieutenant.
+
+The crew were quickly aloft, and every stitch of canvas the _Ione_ could
+set was packed upon her.  There was no disgrace in running from so
+superior a force.  The _Ione_ was considered a good sailer, but the
+Frenchmen showed that they were still faster.  Captain Dickson, however,
+had no intention of yielding his ship as long as he had a stick standing
+to escape with.  Full of men as he now was, he hoped to beat off both
+his foes, though he could not expect to capture them in sight of an
+enemy's squadron.  As they got nearer, a couple of guns were trained aft
+to serve as stern chasers, and every preparation was made to fight for
+life and liberty.
+
+Another frigate and two line-of-battle ships were seen standing after
+the first, but they were so far astern, that should the _Ione_ keep
+ahead, without having her masts and spars shot away, there might still
+be hopes of her escaping.
+
+British seamen seldom wish to avoid a fight, but on the present occasion
+few on board were such fire-eaters as not to hope that they might keep
+well ahead of their foes.
+
+The two frigates were rapidly gaining on the _Ione_; another half-hour,
+or even less, and she would be within range of their guns.  To hit her,
+however, they would have to yaw, and this would enable her to gain on
+them, while she could fire without altering her course.
+
+Jack and Tom every now and then got a glimpse of the enemy through the
+ports.
+
+"I say, Jack, it isn't fair of those two fellows out there to be chasing
+us after all we have gone through.  I was hoping to go home and see my
+father, and ask him to get me placed on the quarter-deck.  I shouldn't
+like to be killed till I've been made a midshipman--not that I should
+like it then."
+
+"Don't you be talking nonsense about being made a midshipman.  You've
+about as much chance as you have of being made port-admiral off-hand,"
+answered Jack, with more temper than he generally showed.  "Of course
+you don't want to be killed--no more do I; but we must both be ready
+should it be God's will to call us in the way of duty."
+
+At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the
+captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
+
+Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was
+taking place astern.  Presently the frigates yawed.  Two flashes were
+seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the
+ocean.
+
+"We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed
+the boatswain, with a laugh.  "They must come closer before they can
+harm us."
+
+"Do you think we can beat them off?" asked Rayner.
+
+"You may be very sure that we'll try pretty hard to do so," answered the
+boatswain, in a confident tone.  "I've heard of your doings aboard the
+_Thisbe_.  We'll show you that the crew of the _Ione_ are made of the
+same stuff."
+
+As the two Frenchmen drew nearer, the desire of the British sailors to
+fight increased, and it was with a feeling of almost bitter
+disappointment, just as the _Ione_ had fired her stern chasers, that the
+enemy were seen to haul their tacks aboard, in answer, apparently, to
+the signals made by the ships astern.
+
+The general opinion was that the British fleet had appeared to the
+eastward.  Whether or not this was the case it was impossible to say.
+
+The _Ione_ continued her course, and in a short time ran the enemy out
+of sight.  On her arrival at Gibraltar, the first intelligence Mr
+Saltwell received was that he had been promoted to the rank of
+commander.
+
+The very next day two ships came in from the fleet with despatches,
+which the _Ione_ was directed to carry immediately to England.
+
+As they were both short of hands, much to Captain Martin's annoyance, a
+considerable number of his men were drafted on board them.  Had other
+ships come in, he would probably have lost many more.  The _Ione_ sailed
+immediately with the remainder, and he hoped that they would form the
+nucleus of a new crew for the _Thisbe_.
+
+The _Ione_ had a quick passage to Plymouth.  On his arrival there, much
+to his disappointment, Captain Martin found that the _Thisbe_ was not
+yet ready for sea.
+
+Rayner was considering how to dispose of himself during the intermediate
+time.  He did not expect that Mrs Crofton would offer him a room, but
+he wished, at all events, to pay her and Mary a visit, as they had
+always shown so friendly a feeling towards him.  When, however, she
+heard how he was situated, she insisted that he should take up his
+quarters with them.
+
+"I do not require any payment, as I have no other lodger at present, and
+I am only too glad to have you," she said, in a kind tone.
+
+Rayner thanked her very warmly, and accepted her offer.
+
+"I daresay Captain Saltwell will come and see us as soon as he has time.
+I was delighted to hear that he had obtained his promotion, and I hope,
+Mr Rayner, that you will soon get yours.  You have surely served long
+enough to pass for a mate, and I would advise you to apply at once, that
+you may be ready for your lieutenancy."
+
+"I am afraid that I should have but little chance of passing, but I'll
+try," said Rayner.  "I am told the examinations are very stiff.  If a
+midshipman doesn't answer every question put to him, he is turned back
+immediately."
+
+"At all events, go in and try, and take a testimonial from Captain
+Saltwell," said Mrs Crofton, who had heard something of the way
+examinations were conducted in those days.
+
+Rayner found, on inquiry, that, fortunately, a board was to sit the very
+next day, and, meeting Captain Saltwell, he mentioned his intention.
+
+"The very thing I was going to advise," was the answer.  "I'll write a
+letter to Captain Cranston, and you can take it with you."
+
+Next morning Rayner presented himself on board the flagship, where he
+found several other midshipmen ready to go up.  First one, and then
+another, was sent for, and came back with smiling faces.  At last one,
+who certainly did not look as if he would set the Thames on fire, went
+in.  In a short time he reappeared, grumbling and complaining that it
+was very hard a fellow who had been at sea six years should be turned
+back.
+
+Rayner's turn came next.  Comparatively but a few questions were asked
+in navigation.  He had no difficulty in answering those put to him in
+seamanship.  At last, Captain Cranston, knitting his brow, and looking
+very serious, said--
+
+"Now, Mr Rayner, supposing the ship you are in charge of is caught on a
+lee shore with a hurricane blowing, and you find yourself embayed; what
+would you do?"
+
+"If there was holding ground, I should let go the best bower, and make
+all snug aloft."
+
+"But suppose the best bower is carried away?"
+
+"I should let go the second bower, sir."
+
+"But suppose you lose that?" asked the captain, looking still more
+serious.
+
+"I should cut away the masts and bring up with my sheet anchor."
+
+"But in the event of losing that, Mr Rayner, how would you next
+proceed?"
+
+"I should have done all that a man can do, and should look out for the
+most suitable place for running the ship ashore."
+
+"But, suppose you could find no suitable place, Mr Rayner?"
+
+"Then, sir, I should let her find one for herself, and make the best
+preparations time would allow for saving the lives of her people, when
+she struck."
+
+"I have the pleasure to inform you, Mr Rayner, that you have passed
+your examination very creditably," said Captain Cranston, handing him
+his papers.
+
+Rayner, thanking the captain, and bowing, made his exit.  On afterwards
+comparing notes with the midshipman who had been turned back, he
+mentioned the question which had been put to him.
+
+"Why, that's the very one he asked me," said his companion.  "I told him
+I would club-haul the ship, and try all sorts of manoeuvres to beat out
+of the bay, and would not on any account let her go ashore."
+
+"I'm not surprised that you were turned back, old fellow," observed
+Rayner, with a laugh.
+
+On returning on shore he met Commander Saltwell.  "I congratulate you,
+Rayner," he said.  "I have just received orders to commission the _Lily_
+sloop-of-war, and I will apply to have you with me.  By-the-bye, where
+are you going to put up?"
+
+"Mrs Crofton has asked me to go to her house, and as I thought that you
+would have no objection, I accepted her offer, sir," answered Rayner.
+
+"I am glad to hear it; the very best thing you could do," said Commander
+Saltwell.  "Though many would prefer the freedom of an inn, I admire
+your good taste in taking advantage of the opportunity offered you to
+pass your time in the society of refined, right-minded persons like Mrs
+Crofton and her daughter."
+
+Our hero spent a few happy days with the kind widow and Mary, who both
+evidently took a warm interest in his welfare.  It was the first time he
+had been living on shore, except during his sojourn in France, since he
+first went to sea.  He was introduced to some of the few friends they
+possessed, and he made several pleasant excursions with them to visit
+some of the beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood of Plymouth.  His
+observation, unknown to himself, enabled him rapidly to adapt himself to
+the manners of people of education, and no one would have recognised in
+the gentlemanly young midshipman the powder monkey of a short time back.
+It was with more regret than he supposed he could possibly have felt
+that he received a summons to join the _Lily_, now fitting out with all
+despatch for the West Indies.  Though he no longer belonged to the
+_Thisbe_, it was with much sorrow that he heard she was pronounced unfit
+for sea, and that her crew had been dispersed.  He made inquiries for
+Jack and Tom.  The former, he discovered, had gone to pay his mother a
+visit; but, though he searched for Tom, he could nowhere hear of him.
+
+The day after he had joined the _Lily_, he was well pleased to see Jack
+come on board.
+
+"I found out, sir, that you belonged to the corvette, as I thought you
+would when I heard that Mr Saltwell was appointed to command her," said
+Jack; "so, sir, I made up my mind to volunteer for her, if I could
+escape being pressed before I got back to Plymouth."
+
+"I am glad to see you, Peek," said our hero.  "Have you heard anything
+of Tom Fletcher?"
+
+"Well, sir, I'm sorry to say I have," answered Jack.  "He has been
+knocking about Plymouth, hiding away from the press-gangs in all sorts
+of places, instead of going home to his father, as he said he would.  I
+only found him last night, and tried to persuade him to join the _Lily_
+with me, but he'd still a shiner or two in his locker, and he couldn't
+make up his mind to come till the last had gone.  I know where to find
+him, and I'll try again after I have entered on board the _Lily_."
+
+"Do so," said Rayner.  "He may be better off with a friend like you to
+look after him than left to himself."
+
+Rayner had the satisfaction of seeing Jack rated as an A.B.  Several of
+the _Thisbe's_ crew had joined the _Lily_, and besides them Ben Twinch,
+who, owing to Captain Martin's recommendation, had been raised to the
+rank of warrant officer, was appointed to her as boatswain.
+
+"Very glad to be with you again, Mr Rayner," said honest Ben; "and I
+hope before the ship is paid off to see you one of her lieutenants.  We
+are likely to have a good ship's company; and I am glad to say my
+brother warrant officers, Mr Coles the gunner, and Mr Jenks the
+carpenter, are men who can be trusted."
+
+Rayner's own messmates were all strangers.  The first lieutenant, Mr
+Horrocks, a red-faced man, with curly whiskers, and as stiff as a poker,
+had not much the cut of a naval officer; while the second lieutenant,
+Mr Lascelles, who was delicate, refined, young, and good-looking,
+offered a great contrast to him.
+
+They were both not only civil but kind to Rayner, of whom Commander
+Saltwell had spoken highly to them.
+
+Jack had been twice on shore to look out for Tom, and had returned
+saying that he could not persuade him to come on board.
+
+At last, when the ship was almost ready for sea, being still some hands
+short of her complement, Rayner obtained leave for Jack, with two other
+men who could be trusted to try and bring him off, and any others they
+could pick up.
+
+Late in the evening a shore boat came off with several men in her, and
+Jack made his appearance on deck, where Rayner was doing duty as mate of
+the watch.
+
+"I have brought him, sir, though he does not exactly know where he is
+coming to," said Jack.
+
+"I found him with his pockets emptied and the landlady of the house
+where he was lodging about to turn him out of doors.  We managed to
+bring him along, sir, however, and to-morrow morning, when he comes to
+his senses, I have no doubt he'll be thankful to enter."
+
+"I'm glad to hear you've got him safe at last, and I know you'll look
+after him," said Rayner.
+
+Next morning Tom, not knowing that Rayner was on board, or how he
+himself came there, entered as an ordinary seaman, which placed him in
+an inferior position to Jack Peek, who might soon, from his activity and
+good conduct, be raised to the rank of a petty officer.
+
+Our hero paid a last visit to Mrs Crofton and Mary, promising, as they
+asked him to do, to write whenever he could obtain an opportunity.
+
+At length the _Lily_, a fine corvette, carrying twenty guns on a flush
+deck and a complement of one hundred and twenty men, was ready for sea.
+
+On going down the Sound she found the _Latona_, which ship she was to
+assist in convoying a fleet of merchantmen brought up in Cawsand Bay.
+
+As the men-of-war approached, the merchant vessels, to the number of
+nearly fifty, got under way and stood down Channel.  It was pretty hard
+work to keep them together, and the corvette was employed in continually
+firing signals to urge on the laggers, or to prevent the faster craft
+from running out of sight.  What with shortening and making sail and
+signalling, together with getting a newly commissioned ship into trim,
+the time of all on board was pretty well occupied, and Rayner had no
+opportunity of learning anything about Tom Fletcher.  A bright look-out
+was kept on every side, for an enemy might at any moment appear,
+especially at night, when it was possible some daring privateer might
+pounce down and attempt to carry off one of the merchantmen, just as a
+hawk picks off a hapless chicken from a brood watched over so carefully
+by the hen.
+
+The wind was fair, the sea calm, and the traders bound for Jamaica
+safely reached Port Royal harbour, the remainder being convoyed to the
+other islands by the _Latona_ and _Lily_, which were afterwards to be
+sent to cruise in search of the enemy's privateers.  Our hero had not
+forgotten Tom Fletcher, but watched in the hopes of doing him a service
+Jack's report of him had not been favourable.  He had talked of going
+home to his father, and had plenty of money in his pocket to do so, but
+instead of that he had gone to dancing-houses and similar places
+resorted to by seamen, where his money rapidly disappeared.  He might
+have fallen into the docks, or died in the streets, had not Jack found
+him and brought him on board the _Lily_.  For some neglect of duty his
+leave had been stopped, and, fortunately for himself, he was not allowed
+to go on shore at Port Royal when the ship put in there.  Tom, however,
+still avoided Rayner, who had no opportunity, unless he expressly sent
+to speak to him, to give him a word of advice or encouragement.
+
+Jack, who was really the best friend he had in the ship, did his utmost
+to keep him out of mischief.
+
+"It's all very fine for you to talk that way," answered Tom, when one
+day Jack had been giving him a lecture.  "You got rated as an able
+seaman, and now have been made captain of the mizen-top, too, and will,
+I suppose, before long, get another step; and here am I sticking where I
+was.  It's no fault of mine, that I can see.  I'll cut and run if I have
+the chance, for I cannot bear to see others placed over my head, as you
+and Bill Rayner have been, and to see him walking the quarter-deck in a
+brand new uniform, and talking to the officers as friendly and easy as
+if he had been born among them, while I, a gentleman's son, remain a
+foremast man, with every chance of being one to the end of my days."
+
+"There's no use grumbling, Tom; all you have to think about is to do
+your duty with smartness, keep sober, and to avoid doing anything wrong,
+and with your education, which I wish I had, you are sure to get on."
+
+There is an old saying that it is useless to try and make a silk purse
+out of a sow's ear.  It is to be seen whether Tom Fletcher was like the
+sow's ear.
+
+Soon after the _Lily_ left Jamaica she fell in with the _Ariel_.  As a
+calm came on while they were in company, the officers of the two ships
+paid visits to each other.  Rayner, recollecting that Mary Crofton's
+brother Oliver was serving in her, got leave to go on board, for the
+purpose of making his acquaintance.  He was much disappointed, on
+inquiring for him, to learn that he had been sent away a few days
+before, in charge of a prize, a brig called the _Clerie_, with orders to
+take her to Jamaica.
+
+"She ought to have arrived before you left there," observed the
+midshipman who told him this.
+
+"How provoking that I should have missed him, though I do not think any
+such vessel came in while we were there," answered Rayner.  "His mother
+and sister are great friends of mine."
+
+"They must be nice people if they are like him, for Oliver Crofton is a
+capital fellow.  He is as kind-hearted and even-tempered as he is brave
+and good-looking, and he is a favourite with all on board."
+
+"I am glad to hear that, though it makes me the more sorry that we
+should have missed each other, but I hope before long to fall in with
+him," observed Rayner.
+
+A breeze springing up, the officers retired to their respective vessels,
+and the _Lily_ and _Ariel_ parted company, the former rejoining the
+frigate.  While off Antigua, the wind being from the eastward, the
+frigate made the signal of three strange sail to the south-west, and
+directly afterwards to give chase.
+
+All the canvas they could carry was set.  In a short time one of the
+strangers was seen to haul up to the northward, and the _Lily_ was
+ordered to go in pursuit of her.  She was apparently the smallest of the
+three, but was still likely to prove no mean antagonist.  As the _Lily_
+appeared to be gaining on her, the commander gave the order to prepare
+for action.  The frigate meantime was standing after the other two
+vessels.  Before long her topsails, and finally her royals, disappeared
+beneath the horizon.
+
+"We shall have her all to ourselves, and we'll see how soon we can take
+her," observed Mr Horrocks to the second lieutenant.  "It is some time
+since you smelt powder, Lascelles."
+
+"Last time I smelt a good deal of it, when we were beating off a ship
+twice our size, and should have taken her, too, had she not gone down in
+the night," answered the second lieutenant, in his usual quiet tone.  "I
+got my promotion in consequence."
+
+"And wrote an ode to victory, eh?" said Mr Horrocks, who was fond of
+bantering his brother lieutenant on his fondness for poetry.
+
+"And it was considered good," responded the young officer.
+
+"You will have an opportunity of exercising your poetical talents before
+long on the same subject, I hope," observed the first lieutenant.  "We
+are gaining fast on the chase."
+
+Just then the look-out from the mast-head shouted, "Sail on the
+starboard bow!"
+
+"Go and see what she is like," said the commander to Rayner.
+
+Our hero hurried aloft, his telescope hanging by a strap at his back.
+He was quickly joined by the second lieutenant.  They were of opinion
+that she was a large craft, and that the object of the chase was to draw
+the _Lily_ away from the frigate, so that the corvette might have two
+opponents to contend with.
+
+"We must manage to take her before she reaches the other, then we shall
+have time to prepare for a second action," observed Mr Lascelles.
+
+"Can she be the _Ariel_?" asked Rayner.  "She's very likely to be
+cruising hereabouts."
+
+Mr Lascelles took another look at her through his glass.
+
+"I think not," he answered.  "The chase must have seen her, and must
+know her to be a friend, or she would not keep on as she is at present
+standing."
+
+The two officers descended to make their report.
+
+The _Lily_ was a fast craft, and now rapidly gained on the chase, which,
+as she drew within range, fired a couple of shot.
+
+Captain Saltwell ordered the two foremost guns to be fired in return.
+The second lieutenant took charge of one and Rayner of the other.  Both,
+looking along the sights, gave them the proper elevation, and fired at
+the same moment.  The effect of the shot was beyond all expectation.
+Down came the foreyard, shot away in the slings, causing, it was very
+evident, considerable confusion on board.
+
+"Bravo, Rayner! you did it!" cried Mr Lascelles.  "My shot went through
+the mainsail."
+
+The enemy now opened fire from a broadside of ten guns, but not a shot
+damaged the _Lily_, which, ranging up on the weather side of her
+opponent, began blazing away as fast as the crews could run in and load
+their guns.
+
+The stranger was a large flush-decked vessel, crowded with men, many of
+whom, stripped to the waist, were working away desperately at their
+guns, while others opened a heavy fire of musketry.
+
+As Rayner, who had charge of the foremost guns, was watching her, he
+caught sight of a young man in the uniform of a midshipman, who sprang
+suddenly up through the companion-hatch, and, making his way aft, seemed
+to be addressing the captain with energetic action.  Rayner got but a
+glimpse of him, for the next moment there came a fearful roaring sound.
+The deck of the enemy's ship rose in the air, rent into a thousand
+fragments.  Her masts and yards and sails shot upwards, and her dark
+hull seemed suddenly to melt away.
+
+The _Lily_ reeled with the shock, and the crew, astounded by the awful
+catastrophe, for a moment forgot their discipline.  Several of the men
+were knocked down; indeed, it seemed surprising that any should have
+escaped.  Rayner remained at his station, and although several pieces of
+burning plank fell close to him, he was uninjured.
+
+The voice of the commander was soon heard recalling the men to their
+duty, and ordering them to fill the buckets with water, to prevent the
+blazing fragments which strewed the deck from setting the ship on fire.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
+
+A RESCUE.
+
+While some of the crew were engaged on deck, others, led by the second
+lieutenant, the boatswain, and Rayner, ascended the rigging with buckets
+of water to heave over the sails, which in several places had caught
+fire.
+
+It was a work of extreme peril, but it was quickly accomplished, before
+much damage had been done.  The ship all the time was standing on, her
+starboard tacks aboard.
+
+Nearly a quarter of an hour had elapsed before any one could look in the
+direction where their late antagonist had floated.
+
+A few dark fragments of wreck could alone be seen in the far distance,
+but no one supposed that any human beings could have escaped from the
+fearful catastrophe.  The _Lily_ was quickly put to rights and stood on
+in chase of the stranger, which was now seen, under a press of sail,
+standing away to the north-west.
+
+Evening was approaching, and it was feared that if she wished to avoid
+the risk of an engagement, she might manage to escape in the night.
+
+During the first part of it the atmosphere was tolerably clear, and the
+chase could dimly be seen in the distance.  She was carrying all sail,
+evidently doing her best to escape.  The _Lily_ had all her canvas set,
+but as at night a squall cannot be seen, as in the daytime, coming
+across the ocean, all hands were kept on deck, ready to take it in at a
+moment's notice.
+
+"Are we gaining on the chase?" asked the commander, when the second
+lieutenant, who had just before gone forward, returned.
+
+"I think so, sir; but unless the breeze freshens, it will be a long time
+before we can get her within range of our guns."
+
+Everything that could be thought of was done to make the corvette move
+through the water.  The sails were wetted, the hammocks were piped down,
+and the watch were ordered to turn in, with a couple of round shot with
+each, under the idea that as the hammocks swung forward with the surge
+of the ship, her speed would be increased.
+
+The privateers were at that time committing so much havoc among the
+English merchantmen, that it was of the greatest importance to stop
+their career.
+
+As the night drew on, the crescent moon, which had before been affording
+some light, sank beneath the horizon, and the darkness increased, a mist
+gradually filling the atmosphere, and obscuring all objects around.  The
+chase was thus shut out from view.  Still the _Lily_ continued standing
+in the direction she had last been seen.
+
+Rayner was on the forecastle near Ben Twinch, both endeavouring to
+pierce the veil which surrounded the supposed privateer.
+
+"We may at any moment run through this mist, and we shall then, I hope,
+see the chase again," observed Ben.  "It won't do for a moment to shut
+our eyes, for maybe we shall find her much closer than before."
+
+"I fancy that I can even now see her, but my imagination may deceive
+me," said Rayner.  "Can that be her out there?"
+
+"I can't see anything," said the boatswain, putting his hands on either
+side of his eyes.
+
+"What is that on the lee bow?" suddenly exclaimed Rayner.
+
+Before the boatswain could turn his eyes in the direction the midshipman
+was pointing, the latter added, "I must have been mistaken.  It has
+disappeared, for I can see nothing.  Still I must go aft and report to
+the commander what I saw, or fancied I saw."
+
+"It could only have been fancy," remarked Captain Saltwell.  "The
+imagination is easily deceived in an atmosphere like this.  We'll keep
+on as we were standing."
+
+Rayner accordingly went forward.  He was not sorry at length to be
+relieved, as he was growing weary from having had so long to keep a
+strain on his eyes.
+
+At last, awakened by the gruff voice of the boatswain turning up the
+hands, he went on deck, and found that it was already daylight; but not
+a sail was in sight, and it was pretty evident that the chase had
+altered her course.
+
+The commander, thinking it likely that she had kept to the westward,
+steered in that direction.
+
+The day wore on, but still no sail appeared, nor did it seem at all
+likely that the chase would again be sighted.  The ship was therefore
+put about to rejoin the _Ione_.
+
+Soon after noon the wind fell, and the _Lily_ lay motionless on the
+glassy ocean; the sun shining forth with intense heat, making the pitch
+in the seams of the deck bubble up, and every piece of metal feel as if
+it had just come out of a furnace.  The seamen sought every spot of
+shade which the sails afforded, and made frequent visits to the
+water-cask to quench their thirst.
+
+A few hours thus passed by, when, away to the south-east, a few clouds
+could be seen floating across the sky.
+
+"The calm can only be partial, for there's wind out there," observed the
+commander, pointing the clouds out to the first lieutenant.  "I hope we
+shall soon get it."
+
+In this he was disappointed.  The day went by; the ship still lay
+motionless on the waste of waters.  Another night came on.  It was not
+until the sun again rose that the sails were heard to give several loud
+flaps against the masts; a few cat's-paws were seen playing over the
+surface of the water, and at length the canvas swelled out to an
+easterly breeze.  The tacks were hauled aboard, and the _Lily_ stood in
+the direction it was supposed the _Ione_ would be found, over the course
+she had just come.
+
+The wind was light, and she made but little progress.  It freshened,
+however, in the evening, and during the night the log showed that she
+was going at a fair rate.
+
+Rayner was in the morning watch, and was forward when the look-out from
+the mast-head shouted, "A piece of wreck away on the starboard bow."  As
+the ship would pass close by it, she was kept on her course.  Rayner was
+examining the piece of wreck through his glass, when he saw what he
+supposed was a person moving on it.
+
+He went aft, and reported this to the first lieutenant, who was on deck,
+and the ship was headed up towards it.  "I can see four or five men!"
+exclaimed Rayner, "some are lying down.  One man is kneeling up and
+waving."
+
+By this time the commander had come on deck, and as the ship drew near,
+he ordered a boat to be got ready.
+
+Two of the men were seen to rise on their knees, and wave.
+
+"They must have belonged to the crew of the ship which blew up the other
+day, though how they escaped seems a miracle," observed the commander.
+"Poor fellows, they must have suffered fearfully!  Put a beaker of water
+and some food in the boat.  They'll want nourishment as soon as
+possible."
+
+The corvette was hove-to.  Rayner took charge of the boat, the crew
+pulling eagerly away to the rescue of the hapless men on the raft.
+
+As they drew near, Rayner observed, to his surprise, as he stood up
+steering, that one of the persons kneeling on the raft was dressed in
+the uniform of an English midshipman.
+
+"Give way, lads--give way!" he shouted.
+
+The boat was quickly up to the raft, which was a portion apparently of
+the poop deck.  Besides the young Englishman, there were five persons
+dressed as ordinary seamen, dark, swarthy fellows, their countenances
+haggard, and their whole appearance wretched in the extreme.
+
+"Water, water! in mercy give us water!" cried the young Englishman;
+while the other men, who were scarcely able to move, pointed to their
+mouths.  One lay stretched on the raft, apparently lifeless, and another
+seemed almost too far gone to recover.
+
+Two of the _Lily's_ crew leapt on the raft, and, lifting up the English
+midshipman, carried him to the stern-sheets, where Rayner stood with a
+cup of water ready to give him.
+
+He grasped it with both his hands, and eagerly drank the contents.  A
+second mug had in the meantime been filled.  One of the Frenchmen, in
+his eagerness to reach it, stretched out his arms, and fell flat on his
+face.  The English seamen lifted him up, and gently poured the water
+down his throat.  He and two more were lifted on board.  They then took
+a cup to the rest, who were too weak to make the slightest exertion.
+They poured some water down the throat of one; he gave one gasp, and
+then sank back, apparently lifeless.  A sixth person was already beyond
+human help.  On raising his arm, it fell again at his side.
+
+"Are we to take these two bodies with us?" asked one of the men.  "They
+don't seem to have any life in them."
+
+"Yes, by all means," answered Rayner; "we must let the doctor judge
+about them--perhaps he may bring them round."
+
+The two bodies were placed in the bows, and the crew giving way, Rayner
+steered for the ship.  As he looked at the countenance of the English
+midshipman, he thought he had seen him before.  He did not trouble him
+with questions, however; indeed, although the latter had asked for
+water, it was very evident that he was unable to answer them.
+
+The boat was soon alongside.  The young midshipman was the first lifted
+on board.
+
+"Why, who can this be?" exclaimed the commander.  "How came he among the
+crew of the privateer?"
+
+Rayner explained that he had seen him spring on deck the instant before
+the ship blew up, but more about him he could not say, as he had not
+spoken a word since he was taken on board the boat.
+
+"Carry him at once into my cabin," said the commander.  "You'll do all
+you can for him I know, doctor," he added, addressing the surgeon, who,
+with the aid of the master and another officer, had already lifted up
+the young stranger.
+
+"He wants nourishment more than doctoring," answered the surgeon.
+
+While the midshipman was being carried into the cabin, the
+assistant-surgeon was examining the other men.  He ordered some broth to
+be given to the three who had first been taken into the boat, observing
+that it was the only thing they required; and he then at once turned his
+attention to a fourth man, whose pulse he felt with a serious
+countenance.
+
+"There's life in him still," he observed; and ordering his head to be
+slightly raised, he hurried down to his dispensary, and quickly returned
+with a stimulant, which he poured down his throat.  The effect was
+wonderful, for scarcely had it been swallowed than the patient gave
+signs of returning animation.  The last poor fellow, after a careful
+examination, he pronounced beyond human aid.
+
+"Had we arrived half an hour sooner, his life might have been saved," he
+observed, "for even now he is scarcely cold."
+
+The surgeon soon came up.
+
+"We'll try what can be done," he said, "for I never despair in a case of
+this sort."
+
+All his efforts, however, proved vain; and he at last had to acknowledge
+to the assistant-surgeon that the unfortunate man was beyond recovery.
+The yards had in the meantime been braced round, and the ship had been
+standing on her course.
+
+Rayner was now sent for into the cabin, where he found the midshipman he
+had saved placed in the commander's cot.
+
+"Do you see a likeness to any one you know?" asked Commander Saltwell.
+
+"Yes," answered Rayner, looking at the countenance of the young
+stranger, who was sleeping calmly; "I thought so from the first; he
+reminds me of Mrs Crofton, or, rather, of her daughter."
+
+"So he does me.  I have little doubt that he is Oliver Crofton, and I
+can fully account for his being on board the privateer," said the
+commander.  "She must have captured the prize of which he was in charge.
+I fear that the rest of the men who were prisoners on board have
+perished."
+
+"I am thankful that he has been saved," said Rayner.  "It would
+well-nigh have broken Mrs Crofton's and her daughter's hearts if they
+had heard that he had died in so dreadful a manner, though to be sure no
+one would have known of it unless we had fallen in with the raft."
+
+The doctor would not allow any questions to be asked his patient until
+he had several times taken a small quantity of nourishment, and had
+passed the intermediate time in sleep; and the commander also kindly
+directed that he should be allowed to remain in his cot, while he had a
+hammock slung in his cabin for himself.
+
+The surgeon or assistant-surgeon was in constant attendance on him
+during the night.
+
+Their unremitting care was rewarded, for soon after the hammocks were
+piped up the young stranger opened his eyes, and exclaimed in a faint
+voice, with a tone of astonishment, "Where am I?  What has happened?"
+
+"You are all right, and safe among friends," said the commander, who had
+just turned out of his hammock, coming to his side.  "You shall have
+some breakfast, and then I must get you to tell me all about yourself.
+Unless I am mistaken, we have met before.  Are you not Oliver Crofton?"
+
+"Yes, sir," answered the midshipman.  "How did you know that, sir?"
+
+"I made a shrewd guess at it," answered the commander, smiling, "and
+truly glad I am to have you on board my ship.  However, do not exert
+yourself just now, but go to sleep again if you can till the steward
+brings you your breakfast, and you shall then, if the doctor thinks you
+are strong enough, tell me all that has happened."
+
+The commander, coming on deck, told Rayner that he was right in his
+conjectures, and invited him to breakfast with him.
+
+The surgeon, however, would not allow Oliver to get up, but said that he
+might give an account of his adventures, provided he did not spin too
+long a yarn.
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Oliver.  "I'll try to collect my thoughts; for,
+to say the truth, I find them somewhat scattered at present.
+
+"It must have been nearly ten days ago when the _Ariel_, to which I
+belonged, captured a French brig.  Captain Matson sent me on board to
+take her to Port Royal.  We were just in sight of the eastern end of
+Jamaica, when a large privateer bore down on us.  We did our best to
+escape, but as she sailed two feet to our one, and carried twenty-two
+guns, we were compelled to yield, and I and my men were taken on board,
+while our prize was sent away to one of the French islands.
+
+"The privateer continued her cruise in search of our merchantmen, or any
+prizes our ships might have taken.  A more ruffianly set of fellows I
+never set eyes on.  My poor men were robbed of everything they had about
+them, and I should have had my jacket taken off my back but for the
+interference of the officers, who allowed me to mess with them, and to
+go on deck whenever I wished.  Considering the style of their
+conversation at table, however, I should have thankfully preferred
+living by myself.
+
+"When they discovered that you were English, the officers took a fearful
+oath that nothing should compel them to yield.  They, however, did their
+best to escape; but when they found that you had the heels of them, they
+made up their minds to fight, fully expecting, I believe, to take you.
+Nothing could exceed the savageness of the crew as, stripped to the
+waist, they went to their guns.  Several of them, as they cast their
+eyes on me, vowed that they would shoot me through the head should the
+day go against them.  Having no fancy to be so treated, I thought it
+prudent to go below, knowing very well that, in spite of their boasting,
+they would soon get the worst of it, and that you, at all events, would
+fight on until you had compelled them to strike their flag or sent them
+to the bottom.  I felt the awful position in which I was placed.  I
+might be killed by one of your shot, even should I escape the knives and
+bullets of my captors.
+
+"I considered how I could best preserve my life, as I thought it very
+possible that you would send the privateer to the bottom should she not
+yield or try to escape.  I determined, should I find her sinking, to
+leap out through one of the stern windows of the captain's cabin.  I
+accordingly made my way there, and was looking out for some instrument
+with which to force open the window when I saw smoke curling up through
+an opening in the deck below me.  I at once knew that it must arise from
+a spot at no great distance from the magazine.  In the hopes of inducing
+the commander to send some men down to try and extinguish the fire
+before it was too late, I sprang on deck.  Scarcely had I reached it,
+and was telling the captain of our danger, when I felt a fearful
+concussion, and found myself lifted into the air, the next instant to be
+plunged overboard amidst the mangled crew, some few around me shrieking
+vainly for help, though the greater number had been killed by the
+explosion and sank immediately.  Being a strong swimmer, I struck out,
+narrowly avoiding several who clutched at my legs, and swam towards a
+large piece of wreck which had been blown to some distance from where
+the ship went down.  I scrambled upon it, and was soon joined by three
+other men, who had, they told me, been forward, and found themselves
+uninjured in the water.
+
+"I saw soon afterwards two others floating at some distance from the
+raft.  One of them shouted for help saying that he was exhausted, and
+could no longer support himself.  The other, notwithstanding left him to
+his fate and swam towards us.  I could not bear to see the poor fellow
+perish in our sight with the possibility of saving him, and as there was
+no time to be lost, I plunged in and made for him, picking up in my way
+a piece of plank.  I placed it under his arms, and telling him to hold
+on to it, shoved it before me in the direction of the raft.  The other
+fellow had in the meantime got hold of a piece of timber, on which he
+was resting, but was apparently almost exhausted.  As I passed, I told
+him that if I could I would come to his help, and I at length managed to
+get back to the raft, on to which the three other men had hauled up
+their other shipmate.
+
+"I was pretty well tired by this time, and had to rest two or three
+minutes before I could again venture into the water.  While I was trying
+to recover my strength, the man clinging to the log, fancying that no
+one was coming, again shrieked out for help.  Once more slipping into
+the water, at last by shoving the piece of plank before me, I contrived
+to reach him; then getting him to take hold of it, I made my way back to
+the raft, when we were both dragged nearly exhausted out of the water.
+
+"At first I had hopes that you would discover us and put back to take us
+off; but when I perceived that you were on fire, I began to fear that we
+should not be observed, though I did not say so to my companions in
+misfortune, but endeavoured to keep up their spirits.  I told them that
+if the ship with which they had been engaged should come back, my
+countrymen would not look upon them as enemies, but would treat them
+kindly, as people who had suffered a great misfortune.  When, however,
+they saw you standing away, they began to abuse the English, declaring
+that we were a perfidious nation, never to be trusted; and I had some
+suspicion that they would wreak their ill-temper on my head.
+
+"My position would have been very dreadful even had I been with
+well-disposed companions.  The sun beat down upon our heads with
+terrific force; we had not a particle of food, nor a drop of water to
+quench our thirst.  I was thankful when, the sun at length having set,
+the men, accustomed only to think of the present, and not suffering much
+as yet from the want of food or water, stretched themselves on the raft
+to sleep.
+
+"I sat up, hoping against hope that you might come back to ascertain if
+any people had escaped, or that some other vessel might pass within
+hail.  We had no means of making a signal, not even a spar on which to
+hoist our handkerchiefs or shirts.  The only article which had by some
+means or other been thrown on the raft was a blanket.  How it had fallen
+there I cannot tell.  I secured it, and doubling it up, it served as a
+rest to my head.  I constantly, however, got up to look about, but no
+vessel could I see, and at length, overpowered by weariness, I lay down
+and fell asleep.
+
+"At daylight I awoke.  The sea was calm.  I gazed anxiously around.  Not
+a speck was visible in the horizon.  The sun rose, and its rays beat
+down upon us with even greater fury than on the previous day, or, at all
+events, I suffered more, as did my companions.  They now cried out for
+water and food, and I saw them eye me with savage looks.  I pretended
+not to observe this, and said that I hoped and thought that we might
+catch some fish or birds.
+
+"`It will be better for some of us if we do,' muttered one of the men.
+
+"Although I saw several coveys of flying-fish leaping out of the water
+in the distance, none came near us.  Once I caught sight of the black
+fin of a shark gliding by; presently the creature turned, and as it
+passed it eyed us, I thought, with an evil look; but while the water was
+calm, there was no risk of its getting at us.  Had the brute been
+smaller, we might have tried to catch it.  I remembered having heard of
+several people who saved their lives, when nearly starved, by getting
+hold of a shark.  One of the men stuck out his leg, and when the
+creature tried to grab it, a running bowline was slipped round its head,
+and it was hauled up.  My companions, however, had not the spirits to
+make the attempt--indeed, we could not find rope sufficient for the
+purpose on our raft.
+
+"The day wore on, and scarcely any of my companions spoke, but lay
+stretched at full length on the raft.  Others sat with their arms round
+their knees, and their heads bent down, groaning and complaining, one or
+two swearing fearfully at the terrible fate which had overtaken them,
+regardless of that of their late shipmates, hurried into eternity.  In
+vain I tried to arouse them.  Now and then one would look at me with an
+ominous glance, and I confess I began to fear, as night drew on, that I
+should not be allowed to see another day dawn.  I stood up, though it
+was with difficulty that I could steady myself, for my strength was
+already failing.  Anxiously I looked round the horizon.  The sky had
+hitherto been clear; but, as I cast my eye to the eastward, I observed a
+cloud rising rapidly.  Another and another followed.  They came on
+directly towards us, discharging heavy drops of rain.  My fear was that
+they would empty themselves before they reached us.  The looks of my
+companions brightened.
+
+"`Now, my friends,' I said, `we must try and catch some of that rain.
+Here, spread out this blanket, for if a shower falls but for ten minutes
+we shall have water enough to quench our thirst.'
+
+"We got the blanket ready.  The first cloud passed by, nearly saturating
+the blanket.  The men wrung it out into one of their hats, two or three
+sucking at the corners.  They seemed inclined to fight for the small
+quantity they had obtained, but did not even offer to give me any.  I
+got no water, though the blanket was somewhat cleansed, not that I felt
+inclined to be particular.  In a few minutes another shower fell.  Each
+of us got an ample supply of water.  My spirits rose in a way I could
+not have expected.  For some time I did not suffer from the pangs of
+hunger; but they presently returned with greater force than before, and
+I guessed how my companions were feeling.  I encouraged them as well as
+I was able.  `God, in His mercy, has sent us water, and He may, I trust,
+supply us with food.'
+
+"Some of them stared at my remark, but others replied--
+
+"`Yes, yes, perhaps to-morrow we shall have an ample breakfast.'
+
+"Still I did not trust them completely, and endeavoured to keep awake
+until they had all dropped off to sleep.
+
+"Another heavy shower fell during the night, and I roused them up to
+obtain a further supply of water.  We filled all our hats, for we had
+nothing else to put it in.  The next day was but a repetition of the
+former.  The water we had obtained during the night was quickly
+exhausted.  My hopes of catching some fish appeared likely to be
+disappointed.  Twice a shark came near us, but the brute was too large
+to give us a chance of catching it.  It was far more likely to have
+caught us had we made the attempt.  We shouted to drive it off.  At
+last, smaller fish of some sort approached--albicores or bonitas.  It
+was extraordinary with what eager looks we eyed the creatures.
+
+"While we were watching the fish, trying to devise some means of
+snatching them, one of the men, who lay stretched on the raft apparently
+asleep or in a state of stupor, suddenly sat up, uttering an exclamation
+of delight.  We turned our heads, and saw him eagerly gnawing at a
+flying-fish; but he snarled and growled, eating eagerly all the time,
+just as a dog does when a person attempts to take a bone from him.  He
+had managed to gulp down the larger portion before the others could
+snatch the prize from him.  The next moment he sank back, and never
+spoke again.  I saw no violence used, except the force they exerted to
+take the fragments of the fish from his hands.  It appeared to me as if
+one of them had stabbed him, so suddenly did he fall.
+
+"The others gave me none of the fish: indeed, my portion would have been
+so small that I did not miss it, though for the moment I would have been
+thankful for the merest scrap of food.
+
+"I still endeavoured to keep up my spirits, and prayed for strength from
+above.  I am sure it was given me, or I should have sunk.  I did not
+like even to think of the pain I suffered.  The Frenchmen, too, were
+growing ravenous, and I heard them talking together, and looking at me
+as if meditating mischief.
+
+"I thought over the means by which I could best preserve my life.  I
+knew that it would not do to show the slightest fear, so arousing
+myself, I said, `My friends, you are hungry, so am I, but we can endure
+another day without eating.  Now I want you to understand that we are
+more likely to be saved by an English vessel than by one of any other
+nation, as there are three times as many English cruisers in these seas
+as there are French, and ten times as many merchantmen.  If we are
+picked up by an English vessel, you are sure to be well treated for my
+sake, but if any accident were to happen to me--if I were to fall
+overboard, for instance--there would be no one to say a word in your
+favour.  Remember that I was the means of saving the lives of two of
+you, although, when I plunged into the water and swam to you at the risk
+of being caught by a shark, or sinking myself from fatigue, I did not
+expect any return.  I suppose that you do not wish to be ungrateful.'
+
+"This address seemed to have some effect on the men I had saved.  Each
+of them uttered an exclamation of approval, while the two others, who
+still retained some little strength, turned aside their heads, not
+daring to look at me.  I did not move until night came on, when I
+crawled from the place I had occupied, and lay down between the two men
+who seemed most disposed to befriend me.  In the middle of the night I
+awoke, and finding that there was a light breeze.  I endeavoured to
+kneel up and ascertain if providentially any vessel were approaching.
+
+"I was raising myself on my elbow when I saw one of the men who had
+threatened me by their words creeping towards me.  I instantly awoke my
+two friends, for so I will call them, by exclaiming, `There is a breeze.
+Perhaps a vessel is approaching us.  We should not be sleeping;' while
+the man whom I suspected of a design against my life drew back and lay
+perfectly still.  I determined not again to fall asleep, if I could
+avoid it, until daylight.  I believe, however, that I frequently dropped
+off, but I was preserved.  When morning dawned, I discovered that the
+man who had, as I believed, intended to kill me was utterly unable to
+move.  The other fellow, however, seemed to be the strongest of the
+party.  He got up, and stretching out his arms, exclaimed, addressing
+his countrymen--
+
+"`Food we must have this day at every coast, or we shall perish.'
+
+"I also rose, and found, to my surprise, that I could stand on my feet.
+
+"`I pray God that we may have food, and that some friendly vessel may
+bring it,' I exclaimed.
+
+"As I spoke I looked round the horizon, when I need not tell you how
+grateful I felt to Heaven at seeing a sail standing, as I judged,
+directly towards us.  I pointed her out to my companions; but as they
+were sitting down, they could not for some time make her out.  I, too,
+could no longer support myself, and once more sank on the raft.  In a
+short time, however, we could all distinguish her.  The Frenchmen began
+to weep.  Now they expressed their fears that she would pass us; now
+they tried to shout for joy at the thoughts of being saved.  I at times
+also dreaded lest we should not be observed, but all my doubts vanished
+when I made you out to be an English sloop-of-war, and saw you haul up
+towards us."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
+
+A SHIPWRECK.
+
+The _Lily_ had been continuing her cruise in the Caribbean Sea for some
+days without falling in with the _Ariel_, or any other English
+ship-of-war, nor had she taken a prize.  Oliver Crofton had completely
+recovered.  As one of the midshipmen was ill, he took his duty.  Our
+hero and Oliver soon became fast friends, and they were well able to
+appreciate each other's good qualities.
+
+Commander Saltwell, not looking upon the Frenchmen he had picked up in
+the light of prisoners, wished to put them on shore as soon as possible.
+He resolved, therefore, to stand in towards the coast of San Domingo,
+the western portion of which island belonged to France, and to land them
+at some settlement where they could obtain assistance.
+
+The _Lily_ was still off the east end of the island, belonging to Spain,
+when a schooner was sighted running along the shore, apparently
+endeavouring to escape observation.  The wind, however, headed her, and
+she was compelled to tack off the land.
+
+"She's French, to a certainty, or she would have run in and brought up
+somewhere," observed Mr Horrocks.
+
+The commander agreed with him.  The ship was steered so as to cut her
+off.  On seeing this, the schooner wore, and, setting a large square
+sail, ran off before the wind to the westward.  Though the stranger
+evidently possessed a fast pair of heels, the _Lily_, making all sail,
+soon got near enough to send a shot skipping over the water close under
+her counter.  The schooner, notwithstanding, still held on, when another
+shot almost grazed her side.  Her object was probably to run on until
+she could steer for some port where she could obtain shelter and
+protection.
+
+"If she doesn't shorten sail presently, send another shot through her
+canvas, Mr Coles," said the commander.
+
+The _Lily_ carried a long gun which could be run out at either of her
+bow ports.  It was the gunner's favourite.  He declared that he could
+shoot as true with it, and ten times as far, as he could with a tower
+musket.  The gun was loaded and pointed through the larboard bow port.
+
+Still the chase held on.  It was time to bring her to, for the wind gave
+signs of dropping.
+
+"Are you ready there, forward, with the gun?" asked the commander.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!" was the answer.
+
+"Port the helm!  Fire!" he shouted directly afterwards.
+
+The gun was well aimed, for the shot went through the schooner's large
+squaresail.  The ship was again kept on her course, when the gun was
+hauled in and reloaded.
+
+"Stand by to fire again, and this time pitch it into her.  All ready
+there, forward?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir!"
+
+Again the helm was ported, but before the commander had time to shout
+"Fire!" the schooner was seen to haul down her flag, at the same time to
+take in her squaresail and clew up her foretopsail.
+
+The corvette was soon up, when she was found to be a fine little
+schooner, such as was employed in the carrying trade between the
+islands, or in bringing the produce of the plantations to some central
+depot.
+
+"Heave to!" cried the commander; "and if you attempt to escape I'll sink
+you, remember that!  Tell them in French what I mean," he added, turning
+to Rayner.
+
+"Oui, oui; je comprende," answered one of the few white men on board--
+probably the master--and, the schooner's helm being put down, she came
+up head to wind, with her foretopsail to the mast.
+
+The corvette, which had by this time shot a little way ahead, also
+hove-to, and the commander directed Rayner, with a boat's crew, to go on
+board the prize and take possession.
+
+The master stood, hat in hand, at the gangway, ready to receive him.
+
+He was bound, he said, for Martinique, in ballast, to obtain a cargo and
+other stores for Leogane, the principal settlement of the French in the
+island.  The crew consisted of a Creole mate, two mulattos, and four
+blacks, one of the former calling himself the boatswain.
+
+"Then you'll do me the favour of accompanying the master and mate on
+board the ship," said Rayner pointing to the boat.
+
+The master seemed very unwilling to obey, but the crew soon tumbled him,
+with the mate and boatswain, into the boat, which returned to the
+corvette, while Rayner remained with two hands on board.
+
+He now ordered the crew to haul round the fore yard, and, keeping the
+helm up, soon ran within speaking distance of the _Lily_.
+
+"I intend to send you in to land the people picked up on the raft, with
+a flag of truce, and as soon as you put them on shore, come back and
+join me," said the commander.
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," answered Rayner, very well pleased to have a separate
+command, although it might only last a few hours.  He was still more
+pleased, however, when the boat came back, bringing Oliver Crofton, the
+four Frenchmen, and Jack and Tom, to form part of his crew.  The blacks
+and the mulatto were kept on board to assist in working the schooner.
+The mulatto said he was the steward, and one of the blacks, with a low
+bow, introduced himself as the cook.
+
+"Me talkee English, massa, well as French, and me cookee anyting dat
+buckra officer like to order," he said, with a grimace which made the
+midshipman laugh.
+
+"By-the-bye, before we part company with the corvette, we may as well
+ascertain what Sambo here has got to cook," said Oliver.
+
+It was fortunate that he had this forethought, for, except a supply of
+salt-fish, some yams and bananas, and a small cask of flour, with a
+half-empty case of claret, no other provisions were discovered for
+officers or men.  Oliver accordingly returned, and obtained some beef
+and biscuit, and a few articles from the mess.
+
+"And just bring five or six dollars with you, in case we want to
+purchase any fish or vegetables," said Rayner, as he was shoving off.
+
+No time was lost in procuring what was necessary, when Oliver returned
+to the _Mouche_, for such was the name of the prize.  The corvette
+making sail, she and the schooner ran on in company until they came off
+the French part of the coast.  The commander then ordered Rayner to
+stand in, directing him, should any people be seen on shore, to hoist a
+white flag, and land the four Frenchmen.
+
+Scarcely, however, had they parted company for a couple of hours, when a
+dead calm came on, and Rayner and Oliver believed that there was no
+chance of being able to land the Frenchmen that night.
+
+"I am very sorry for it," remarked Oliver; "for from the experience I
+have had of them, I think it more than possible, if they can get the
+assistance of the black crew, they will try and play us some scurvy
+trick.  I have not hitherto pointed out the fellow who tried to take my
+life, and who was so nearly dying himself; but I suspect his disposition
+has not altered for the better.  You'll fancy me somewhat suspicious,
+but I cannot help thinking that should he win over the blacks, they will
+try and take the schooner from us."
+
+"They'll find that rather a tough job with you and me and our four men
+to oppose them," answered Rayner.  "However, after your warning, I'll
+keep an eye on the gentlemen, and I'll tell Jack Peek to let me know if
+he sees anything suspicious in their behaviour.  He understands French
+almost as well as I do, and he'll soon find out what they are about."
+
+"I do not like to think ill of other people, even though they are
+foreigners; but I cannot forget what a villain one of those men is,"
+remarked Oliver.
+
+"Forewarned, forearmed," said Rayner.  "We need not, after all, be
+anxious about the matter; but it will be wise to keep our pistols in our
+belts and our swords by our sides, and not to let the Frenchmen and the
+black crew mix together more than is necessary."  The steward now came
+aft, hat in hand, and speaking in a jargon of French and Spanish,
+interlarded with a few words of English, of which he was evidently
+proud, requested to know what the officers would like for supper.
+
+"We shall not find fault, provided that the cook supplies us with the
+best he can," answered Rayner.  "One of our men there,"--pointing to
+Jack Peek--"will give him the materials, unless he happens to have some
+ducks or fowls, or a fine fish, for which we will pay him."
+
+The steward shrugged his shoulders, regretting that the only fish he had
+on board were salted; but, notwithstanding, the cook would exercise his
+skill upon them, and would produce a dish which even an epicure would
+not disdain.
+
+While waiting for the evening meal, the young officers walked the deck,
+whistling for a breeze, but there seemed no chance of its coming.  The
+land lay blue, but still indistinct, away to the northward, its outline
+varied by hills of picturesque form, which rose here and there along the
+coast.
+
+Rayner called up Jack Peek, and told him to keep a watch not only on the
+black crew, but on the Frenchmen.  "Notwithstanding the kind way they
+have been treated, they may think it a fine opportunity for obtaining a
+vessel in which they can carry on their former calling," he observed.
+
+"They'll be audaciously ungrateful wretches if they do, sir," answered
+Jack.  "To my mind they'll deserve to be hove overboard to feed one of
+those sharks out there;" and he pointed to a black fin which was gliding
+just above the surface.
+
+"I hope that they will not prove treacherous, and it is our business to
+take care that they have no opportunity of being so," said Rayner.  "Do
+you and Tom keep an eye upon them, that's all."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack.
+
+The English seamen kept together.  Though there were but four of them,
+they were sturdy fellows, well armed, and it was not likely that either
+the blacks or Frenchmen would venture to attack them.
+
+At length the mulatto steward announced supper ready, and Rayner and
+Oliver descended to partake of it, leaving Tom in charge of the deck.
+
+"Call me if you see the slightest sign of a breeze," said the former, as
+he went below.
+
+The cabin was not very large nor yet very clean; indeed, cockroaches and
+centipedes were crawling about in all directions, and every now and then
+dropped down on the white cloth from the beams above.  The table,
+however, was covered with several dishes, which, from the fragrant odour
+ascending from them, promised to satisfy the hunger of a couple of
+midshipmen.  It was difficult to make out the materials of which the
+dishes were composed, but on examination it was found that they
+consisted chiefly of salt beef and fish dressed in a variety of
+fashions, fricasseed, stewed, and grilled, and mixed with an abundance
+of vegetables, with some delicious fruit, such as the West Indies can
+alone produce.
+
+"Me tinkee better keep on de cobers, massa," observed the steward, "or
+de cockroaches fall in an' drown demselves."
+
+"By all means," said Rayner, laughing.  Indeed, he and Oliver had to
+examine each mouthful before they raised it to their lips, lest they
+should find one of the nauseous creatures between their teeth.
+
+As soon as the midshipmen had finished supper, they returned on deck.
+
+The sun had sunk beneath the ocean in a refulgence of glory, its parting
+rays throwing a ruddy glow over the surface, unbroken by a single
+ripple.
+
+"We must make up our minds to spend the night where we are," observed
+Rayner.  "It will be as well for you and me to take watch and watch, and
+not to trust to any of the men, for although I have every confidence in
+Peek, I cannot say the same for the rest."
+
+Oliver, of course, agreed to this, and took the first watch.  At
+midnight he aroused Rayner, who had stretched himself on one of the
+lockers, not feeling inclined to turn into either of the
+doubtful-looking bunks at the side of the vessel.
+
+"I suspect that we are going to have a change of weather," said Oliver,
+as he came on deck.  "The air feels unusually oppressive for this time
+of night.  There is a mist rising to the southward, though the stars
+overhead shine as bright as usual."
+
+"I don't know what to think of it, having had but little experience in
+these seas," answered Rayner; "I must ask the oldest of the Frenchmen,
+but I don't see any of them on deck."
+
+"No, they and the blacks have all turned in," said Oliver.  "They did
+not ask my leave, but I thought it useless to rouse them up again, as
+there seemed no chance of their being wanted."
+
+"Well, go and lie down and take a caulk, if the centipedes and
+cockroaches will let you," laughed Rayner.  "They have been crawling all
+over me during the time I have been below, but I knew there was no use
+attempting to keep them off, so I let them crawl, without interfering
+with their pleasure.  If I see any further change in the appearance of
+the sky, I will rouse you up, and we'll make the black fellows turn out
+to be ready to shorten sail."
+
+Rayner for some time walked the deck of the little vessel alone.  Jack
+was at the helm, and one of the men forward.  The watch was very nearly
+out, and he determined not to call up Oliver until daylight.  On looking
+to the southward he saw that the mist which had before remained only a
+few feet above the horizon was rapidly covering the sky, while beneath
+it he distinguished a long line of white foam.
+
+"Turn out, Oliver!" he shouted through the cabin skylight; "I'll take
+the helm.  Peek, run forward and rouse up the blacks and Frenchmen to
+shorten sail.  Not a moment to be lost!"
+
+Jack as he went forward shouted down the main hatchway, where Tom and
+the other men were sleeping, and then in a stentorian voice called, in
+French, to shorten sail.
+
+The Englishmen were on deck in a moment, but the blacks came up
+stretching their arms and yawning.
+
+"Lower away with the throat and peak halyards!" shouted Rayner.
+
+Oliver and the two English sailors hastened to obey the order.
+
+"Brail up the foresail.  Be smart, lads!  Aloft with you and furl the
+foretopsail, or it will be blown out of the bolt-ropes!"
+
+The mainsail was quickly got down.  The black crew were pulling and
+hauling at the brails of the headsails, when a fierce blast struck the
+vessel.  She heeled over to it.
+
+Rayner immediately put up the helm; but before the vessel had answered
+to it, she heeled over till the water rushed over the deck.  Then there
+came a clap like thunder, and the main-topsail, split across, was blown
+out of the bolt-ropes.
+
+"Square away the foreyard!" shouted Rayner.
+
+The vessel, righting, flew off before the fierce gale, the water rushing
+and foaming round her sides.  Astern, the whole ocean seemed a mass of
+tumultuous foam-covered waves.
+
+The sky was as black as ink.  To bring the vessel to the wind was
+impossible.  All that could be done was to run directly before the gale,
+and even then it seemed that at any moment the fast rising seas might
+break over her stern and sweep her decks.
+
+The schooner, however, by continuing her course, was running on
+destruction, unless some port could be found under her lee to afford her
+shelter; but even then there was a great risk of being captured by the
+enemy, who would not pay much attention to a flag of truce, or believe
+that she came for the object of landing the Frenchmen.  Besides which,
+as the vessel was a prize, it would be thought perfectly right to detain
+her.
+
+Dawn broke; for an instant a fiery-red line appeared in the eastern
+horizon, but was quickly obscured.  The increasing light, however,
+enabled the crew to carry on work which could not otherwise have been
+performed.
+
+Rayner and Oliver resolved that they must, at all risks, try to heave
+the schooner to while there was yet sea-room; and, should the weather
+moderate, beat off shore until the gale was over and a boat could land
+the people with safety on the beach.  The first thing to be done was to
+strike the maintopmast.  Peek took the helm, while the rest went aloft.
+
+It was no easy matter to get out the fid--the pin which secured the heel
+of the topmast in the cross-trees--but after considerable exertions,
+with a fearful risk of being jerked overboard, they succeeded in
+lowering down the mast.
+
+They had next to get fore and main-trysails ready to set, should it be
+found possible to beat to windward, though at present it was evident
+that the schooner could not bear even that amount of canvas.
+
+The foretopsail had stood, being a new stout sail, and it being closely
+reefed, Rayner hoped that the little vessel would lay to under it.  It
+was a dangerous experiment he was about to try, but he had to choose
+between two evils--that of being driven on shore, or the risk of having
+the decks swept by the tremendous seas rolling up from the southward
+before the schooner could be hove-to.  She had already run a
+considerable distance nearer the land.
+
+Stationing the men in readiness to brace round the yard, he looked out
+for a favourable opportunity to put down the helm and bring the vessel
+up to the wind.
+
+That favourable opportunity, however, did not come; every sea that
+rolled up astern threatened to overwhelm her should he make the attempt.
+
+The land appeared closer and closer.  If the vessel was to be hove-to it
+must be done at once, in spite of all risks.
+
+"Hold on, lads, for your lives!" cried Rayner, in English and French,
+setting the example by clinging to the larboard main rigging.  "Now
+starboard the helm.  Haul away on the larboard headbrace.  Ease off the
+starboard."
+
+Oliver and Jack, who were at the helm, as they put it down prepared to
+lash it to starboard; but as the vessel came up to the wind, a fearful
+sea struck her, sweeping over her deck, carrying away the caboose and
+the whole of the bulwarks forward; at the same moment the foretopsail
+split as the other had done, and the canvas, after fluttering wildly in
+the blast, was whisked round and round the yard.
+
+"Up with the helm!" cried Rayner.
+
+Oliver and Jack, knowing what was necessary, were already putting it up.
+Before another sea struck the vessel she was again before the gale.
+Her only resource was now to anchor, should no port be discovered into
+which they could run.
+
+The cable was accordingly ranged ready to let go at a moment's notice;
+but Rayner and Oliver well knew that there was little hope of the anchor
+holding, or if it did, of the vessel living through the seas which would
+break over her as soon as her course was stopped.  Still, desperate as
+was the chance, it must be tried.  There might be time to set the
+foresail yet, and she might lay to under it.
+
+The order was given to get the sail ready for setting as soon as she
+could be brought up to the wind.  Again the helm was put down.
+
+"Hoist away!" shouted Rayner.
+
+But scarcely had the sail felt the wind than it was blown away to
+leeward, and another sea, even heavier than the first, struck the
+vessel, sweeping fore and aft over her deck.
+
+Rayner, who was clinging on to the rigging, thought that she would never
+rise again.  A fearful shriek reached his ear, and looking to leeward,
+he saw two of his people in the embraces of the relentless sea.
+
+In vain the poor fellows attempted to regain the schooner, farther and
+farther they were borne away, until, throwing up their arms, they
+disappeared beneath the foaming waters.
+
+At first he thought they were his own men, but on looking round he saw
+Oliver and Jack clinging to the companion-hatch, and the rest holding on
+to the main rigging.  One of the Frenchmen had been lost, and the
+coloured steward.
+
+Ere long the rest on board might have to share the same fate.  Still
+Rayner resolved to struggle to the last.
+
+Another attempt was made.  The main-trysail was shifted to the foremast;
+if that would stand, the vessel might possibly be kept off shore; but
+scarcely had it been set, than the hurricane came down on the hapless
+vessel with redoubled fury.  The weather rigging gave way, and down came
+the mast itself, killing one of the blacks, and fearfully crushing
+another; and, to Rayner's dismay striking down Jack Peek.  He sprang
+forward to drag Jack out from beneath the tangled rigging and spars,
+calling Tom Fletcher to assist him.  They ran a fearful risk of being
+washed away, but he could not leave Jack to perish.
+
+"Are you much hurt?" he shouted, as he saw Jack struggling to free
+himself.
+
+"Can't say, sir; but my shoulder and leg don't feel of much use,"
+answered Jack.
+
+Tom, with evident reluctance, had to let go his hold, but could not
+refuse to run the same risk as his officer.
+
+By lifting the spars they got Jack out, and dragged him to the
+after-part of the vessel, where, as he did not seem able to help
+himself, Rayner secured him by a lashing to a stanchion.
+
+"I'll stand by you, Peek, and, if it becomes necessary, I'll cast you
+off, so that you may have a chance of saving yourself," he said.
+
+As it was now evidently hopeless to attempt heaving the vessel to, she
+was once more kept before the wind, while Rayner and his men, armed with
+two axes, which they found hanging up in the companion-hatch, and their
+knives cut away the rigging, and allowed the foremast, which hung over
+the side, to float clear of the vessel.
+
+"We must now cut away the mainmast.  We shall have to bring up
+presently, and it will enable her to ride more easily," cried Rayner.
+The standing rigging was first cut through, then that on the other side,
+when a few strokes sent the mast overboard.  Still the schooner ran on
+before the wind.  Had she been laden, she must have foundered.  The
+hatches had been got on and battened down.  They now, as far as
+practicable, secured the companion-hatch, for they all well knew that
+the moment they should bring up, the seas would come rolling on board,
+and sweep the decks fore and aft.  By Rayner's advice, each man got
+lashings ready to secure himself to the stanchions or stumps of the
+masts.  Nearer and nearer the vessel drew to the shore.  Looking ahead,
+the line of breakers were seen dashing wildly on a reef parallel with
+the shore, beyond which there appeared to be a narrow lagoon.
+
+Rayner, observing that the surf did not roll up the beach to any
+considerable height, looked out for a passage through which the vessel
+might be steered.  The continuous line of breakers ran as far as the eye
+could reach along the shore.  There was only one spot where they seemed
+to break with less fury.  Towards it Rayner determined to steer the
+schooner.  He and Oliver soon came to the conclusion that it would be
+useless to attempt anchoring.  The water, probably, was far too deep
+outside the reef for their range of cable, and even if it were not, the
+anchor was not likely to hold.
+
+They accordingly steered for the spot they had discovered, the only one
+which afforded them the slightest hope of escaping instant destruction.
+
+On rushed the vessel, now rising on the top of a sea, now plunging into
+a deep hollow.  Rayner and Oliver held their breaths.
+
+"I say, what's going to happen?" asked Tom of one of the other men.
+"Shall we get safe on shore?  I shouldn't mind if we could, although the
+Frenchmen made us prisoners."
+
+"As to that, it seems to me doubtful," was the answer.  "Maybe, in a few
+minutes we shall be floating about among those breakers there, with no
+more life in us than those poor fellows who were washed away just now;
+or it may be that this little craft will be carried clear over the reef
+into smooth water."
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear!" exclaimed Tom, "I have often wished that I had
+stayed at home; I wish it more than ever now."
+
+"No use wishing.  It won't undo what has been done.  But, see, we are
+getting very close.  We shall know all about it presently."
+
+The schooner was farther off than Rayner had at first supposed; and as
+they got nearer he saw, to his relief, that the spot for which he was
+steering was wider than he had fancied.
+
+There seemed just a chance that the vessel might be thrown through
+without striking; at the same time, tossed about as she was, it was
+impossible to steer her as might be wished.  He commended himself and
+his followers, as every wise men would do, to the care of the Almighty,
+and nerved himself up for whatever might happen.
+
+The roar of the breakers sounded louder and louder.  On the vessel
+drove, until there was a crash.  She had struck, but, contrary to all
+expectation, another sea lifted her and flung her completely through the
+breakers, when, swinging round, she grounded on a sandbank just within
+them, heeling over with her head to the eastward, and her deck towards
+the shore.
+
+Though the sea, which washed over the reef, still beat against her, she
+might possibly hold together for some time.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY.
+
+RAYNER PROVES THAT HE IS A TRUE HERO.
+
+The sea dashing over the reef, though spent of its fury, still broke
+with great force against the hull of the schooner.  Her timbers shook
+and quivered as wave after wave, striking them, rolled on towards the
+beach, and then came hissing back, covering the surface of the lagoon
+with a mass of creaming foam.  The coast, as far as could be seen
+through the masses of spray, looked barren and uninviting.
+
+The Frenchmen and blacks, recovering from the alarm which had well-nigh
+paralysed them, rushed to the boat stowed amidships, and began casting
+adrift the lashings, and preparing to launch her.
+
+"Keep all fast there!" cried Rayner, as he saw what they were about.
+"It will be best to wait till the sea goes down, when we shall be able
+to get the boat into the water with less risk of her being swamped than
+at present."
+
+They, however, paid no attention to his orders, and continued their
+preparations for launching the boat.
+
+When he found that they persisted in their attempts, he urged them to
+wait till they had collected a supply of provisions, and obtained some
+fresh water, as it was probable that they might find neither the one nor
+the other on shore.  Calling Fletcher aft to attend to Peek, he and
+Oliver went into the cabin to collect all the eatables they could find,
+as also their carpet bags and such other articles as might be useful.
+
+"We must get up some water before the boat shoves off," said Rayner.
+"I'll send one of the men to help you, while I go into the hold to
+search for casks."
+
+The boat was still on the deck, and there seemed no probability that the
+Frenchmen and blacks would succeed in launching her.
+
+He was some time below, hunting about for the casks of water.
+
+He had just found a couple, and was about to return on deck to obtain
+some slings for hoisting them up, when he heard Jack Peek shout out,
+"Quick, Mr Rayner--quick! the fellows are shoving off in the boat."
+
+Springing on deck, what was his surprise and indignation to see the boat
+in the water, and all the men in her, including Tom Fletcher!
+
+"What treachery is this?" he exclaimed.  "If go you must, wait until we
+can get our injured shipmate into the boat, and Mr Crofton will be on
+deck in a moment."
+
+While he was speaking, the man named Brown, who had gone with him below,
+rushing on deck, leapt into the boat, intending to prevent them from
+shoving off.  Rayner, for the same object, followed him, with a rope in
+his hand, which he was in the act of making fast, when one of the
+Frenchmen cut it through, and the boat rapidly drifted away from the
+side of the vessel.
+
+In vain Rayner urged the people to pull back, and take off Oliver and
+Jack; but, regardless of his entreaties, one of them, seizing the helm,
+turned the boat's head towards the beach.  They pulled rapidly away,
+endeavouring to keep her from being swamped by the heavy seas which
+rolled up astern.  Now she rose, now she sank, as she neared the shore.
+
+"Oliver will fancy that I have deserted him; but Jack Peek knows me too
+well to suppose that I could have acted so basely," thought Rayner.
+"If, however, the boat is knocked to pieces, it will be a hard matter to
+get back to the wreck.  All I can do is to pray to Heaven that the
+schooner may hold together till I can manage to return on board."
+
+These thoughts passed through his mind as the boat approached the beach.
+He saw that it would be utterly useless to try and induce the men to
+return.  Indeed, the attempt at present would be dangerous.  He again
+urged the crew to be careful how they beached the boat.
+
+"The moment she touches jump out and try to run her up, for should
+another sea follow quickly on the first, she will be driven broadside on
+the beach, and before you can get free of her, you may be carried away
+by the reflux."
+
+The Frenchmen and blacks, eager to save themselves, paid no attention to
+what he said.  On flew the boat on the summit of a sea, and carried
+forward, the next instant her keel struck the sand.  Regardless of his
+advice, they all at the same moment sprang forward, each man trying to
+be the first to get out of the boat.  He and Tom Fletcher held on to the
+thwarts.
+
+On came the sea.  Before the men had got out of its influence, two of
+them were carried off their legs, and swept back by the boiling surf,
+while the boat, broaching to, was hove high up on the beach, on which
+she fell with a loud crash, her side stove in.  Rayner, fearing that she
+might be carried off, leaped out on the beach, Tom scrambling after him.
+His first thought was to try and rescue the two men who had been
+carried off by the receding wave.  Looking round to see who was missing,
+he discovered that one of them was a British seaman, the other a
+Frenchman.  He sprang back to the boat to secure a coil of rope which
+had been thrown into her, and calling on his companions to hold on to
+one end, he fastened the other round his waist, intending to plunge in,
+and hoping to seize hold of the poor fellows, who could be seen
+struggling frantically in the hissing foam.  The Frenchmen and blacks,
+however, terror-stricken, and thinking only of their own safety, rushed
+up the beach, as if fancying that the sea might still overtake them.
+Tom and his messmate alone remained, and held on to the rope.  Rayner
+swam off towards the Frenchman, who was nearest to the shore.  Grasping
+him by the shirt, he ordered Tom and Brown to haul him in, and in a few
+seconds they succeeded in getting the Frenchman on shore.
+
+Ward, the other seaman, could still be seen floating, apparently
+lifeless, in the surf--now driven nearer the beach, now carried off
+again, far beyond the reach of the rope.  The moment the Frenchman had
+been deposited on the sands, Rayner sprang back again, telling Tom and
+Brown to advance as far as possible into the water.
+
+Rayner, however, did not feel very confident that they would obey his
+orders, but trusted to his powers as a swimmer to make his way back to
+the beach.  A sea rolled in.  He swam on bravely, surmounting its
+foaming crest.  He had got to the end of the rope, and Ward was still
+beyond his reach.  Still he struggled.  Perhaps another sea might bring
+the man to him.  He was not disappointed, and grasping the collar of
+Ward's jacket, he shouted to Brown and Tom to haul away; but the sea
+which had brought Ward in rolled on, and Tom, fancying that he should be
+lifted off his legs, let go the rope and sprang back.  Happily, Brown
+held on, but his strength was not sufficient to drag in the rope.  In
+vain he called on Tom to come back to his assistance.  While tugging
+manfully away, he kept his feet on the ground, although the water rose
+above his waist.  The next instant the sea bore Rayner and his now
+lifeless burden close up to where he stood.  Rayner himself was almost
+exhausted, but with the help of Brown, and such aid as Tom was at
+length, from very shame, induced to give, they got beyond the influence
+of the angry seas Rayner lost no time in trying to restore the seaman,
+but with sorrow he found that it was a corpse alone he had brought on
+shore.
+
+The Frenchman, Jacques Le Duc, having been less time in the water,
+quickly recovered, and expressed his gratitude to Rayner for having
+saved him.
+
+"Mais, ma foi! those poltroons who ran off, afraid that the sea would
+swallow them up, should be ashamed of themselves," he exclaimed.  "You
+had best show your gratitude, my friend, by getting them to assist us in
+bringing off my brother officer and the seaman from the wreck," answered
+Rayner.  "I fear that she will not hold together many hours, and unless
+they are soon rescued they may lose their lives."
+
+"I will try and persuade them to act like men," answered Jacques.  "You
+have twice saved my life, and I feel bound to help you."
+
+Saying this, Jacques, who had been assisted on his legs by Tom and
+Brown, staggered after his companions, shouting to them to stop.
+
+On seeing him, they only ran the faster.
+
+"Do you take me for a ghost?" he cried out, "Come back, come back, you
+cowards, and help the brave Englishman!"
+
+At last they stopped, and Jacques was seen talking to them.  In a short
+time he came back, saying that they declared nothing would induce them
+to return to the wreck; that the boat, they knew, could no longer float,
+and that there was no other means of getting off; that if they remained
+on the shore they should be starved, and that they must hurry away in
+search of food and shelter before night, which was fast approaching.
+
+"Then we must see what we can do by ourselves," said Rayner.  "We cannot
+allow Mr Crofton and Peek to perish while we have any means of going to
+their assistance.  I must first see if we can patch up the boat so as to
+enable her to keep afloat."
+
+On examining her, however, it was discovered that several of the planks
+on one side were stove in, and that they could not repair her
+sufficiently to keep out the water.  At first Rayner thought of making a
+raft out of the materials of the boat; but he soon came to the
+conclusion that he should never be able to paddle it against the seas
+which came rolling in.
+
+"It must be done," he said to himself.  "I have swum as far in smooth
+water, with no object in view; but strength will be given me.  I trust,
+when I am making an effort to save my fellow-creatures.  Crofton might
+perhaps swim to the shore, but nothing would induce him to leave a
+shipmate alone to perish."
+
+All this time Oliver and Jack could be seen seated on the deck, holding
+on to the stanchions to save themselves from being washed away by the
+seas which, occasionally breaking over her side, poured down upon them.
+
+It of course occurred to Rayner that if Oliver could manage to float a
+cask, or even a piece of plank secured to the end of a rope, a
+communication might be established between the wreck and the shore; but
+as far as he could see, the running rigging and all the ropes had gone
+overboard with the masts, and the only coil saved was that which had
+been brought in the boat.
+
+"Go off again I must," he said; "and I want you, my lads, to promise me,
+should I perish, that you will use every exertion to save the people on
+the wreck.  Fletcher, you know our object in coming on the coast.  You
+must go to the authorities and explain that we had no hostile
+intentions--that our wish was to land the Frenchmen whose lives we had
+saved; and if you explain this, I hope that you will all be well
+treated."
+
+Even Tom was struck by his officer's courage and thoughtfulness; and he
+and his messmate promised to obey his orders.
+
+Rayner, having now committed himself to the care of Heaven, prepared to
+swim off to the wreck.  He knew that Oliver would see him coming, and
+would be ready to help him get on board.  Waiting until a sea had broken
+on the beach, he followed it out, and darting through the next which
+rolled forward, he was soon a long way from the shore.  He found he
+could swim much better than before, now that he had no rope to carry.
+Boldly he struck forward.  Happily he did not recollect that those seas
+swarmed with sharks.  On and on he went.  Now and again, as a sea rushed
+over the reef, he was thrown back, but exerting all his strength, he
+struggled forward.  He was nearing the wreck, and could see that Oliver,
+who was eagerly watching him, had got hold of a short length of rope,
+with which he stood ready to heave when he should be near enough.  But
+he felt his own strength failing.  It seemed almost beyond his power to
+reach the wreck.  Still, it was not in his nature to give in, and making
+a desperate effort, striking out through the surging waters, he clutched
+the rope which Oliver hove-to him, and the next instant was clambering
+on board.  Throwing himself down on the deck, he endeavoured to regain
+his strength, Oliver grasping him tightly with one hand, while he held
+to the stanchion with the other.
+
+"I knew you would not desert us, Rayner," he said.  "But now you have
+come, how are we to get this poor fellow to the shore?  I could not
+leave him, or I would not have allowed you to risk your life by
+returning on board.  We must try and knock a raft together sufficient to
+carry Peek, and you and I will swim alongside it, if we cannot make it
+large enough to hold us all three.  There's no time to be lost, though."
+
+Providentially the wind had by this time decreased, and the tide having
+fallen, the seas struck with less fury against the wreck, and enabled
+the two midshipmen to work far more effectually than they could
+otherwise have done.
+
+Jack begged that he might try and help them, but they insisted on his
+remaining where he was, lest a sea should carry him off, and he might
+not have the strength to regain the wreck.
+
+Fortunately the two axes had been preserved, and going below, they found
+several lengths of rope, though not of sufficient strength to form a
+safe communication with the shore.  They would serve, however, for
+lashing the raft together.
+
+They quickly cutaway some of the bulkheads.  They also discovered below
+several spars and a grating.  By lashing these together they in a short
+time formed a raft of sufficient size to carry all three.  They next
+made a couple of paddles with which to guide the raft.  They were very
+rough, but they would serve their purpose.  It was almost dark by the
+time the raft was finished.
+
+"I say, I feel desperately hungry, and I daresay so do you, Rayner,
+after all you have gone through," said Oliver.  "I propose that we
+should have some of the contents of the basket we packed.  I left it in
+the steward's pantry on the weather side."
+
+"A very good idea," answered Rayner.  "Pray get it up.  Some food will
+do Peek good, and enable us all to exert ourselves.  I'll finish this
+lashing in the meantime."
+
+They were not long in discussing some of the sausages and bread which
+Oliver produced.
+
+"I feel much more hearty, sir," said Jack, when he had swallowed the
+food.  "I don't fancy there's so much the matter with me after all, only
+my leg and back do feel somewhat curious."
+
+"Come," said Rayner, "we must make the attempt, for we cannot tell what
+sort of weather we shall have during the night."
+
+With forethought, they had fixed some lashings to the raft with which to
+secure both Jack and themselves.  It floated with sufficient quietness
+to enable them to place Jack upon it.
+
+"We must not forget the food, though," said Oliver.
+
+"Do you, Peek, hold the basket, and do not let it go if you can help
+it."
+
+They took their seats, and lashing themselves to the raft, cast off the
+rope which held it to the wreck, and began paddling away with might and
+main.  The seas rolled in with much less force than before, though there
+was still considerable risk of the raft capsizing.
+
+While under the lee of the wreck they proceeded smoothly enough, but the
+seas which passed her ahead and astern meeting, several times washed
+over them.  As they approached the shores they could see through the
+gloom three figures standing ready to receive them.
+
+"I am glad those fellows have not deserted us, for after the way they
+before behaved I did not feel quite sure about the matter," said Rayner.
+
+While he was speaking, a sea higher than the rest came rolling along in,
+and lifting the raft on its summit, went hissing and roaring forward.
+
+"Be ready to cast off the lashings, and to spring clear of the raft, or
+it may be thrown over upon us," cried Rayner.  He gave the warning not a
+moment too soon, for the sea, carrying on the raft, almost immediately
+dashed it on the beach.  Springing up and seizing Jack Peek by the arm,
+he leapt clear of it.  They would both have fallen, however, had not Tom
+and Brown dashed into the water and assisted them, while Le Duc rendered
+the same assistance on the other side to Oliver.
+
+Before the raft could be secured the reflux carried it away, together
+with the basket of provisions, and it soon disappeared in the darkness.
+"What shall we do next?" asked Oliver.  "We cannot stop on the beach all
+night."
+
+Wet to the skin as they were, although the wind was not cold, it blew
+through their thin clothing, and made them feel very chilly.
+
+"We must look out for food and shelter," observed Rayner.  "Perhaps we
+shall fall in with some of the huts of the black people where we can
+obtain both, though the country did not look very inviting when there
+was light enough to see it.  I, however, don't like to leave the body of
+that poor fellow on the beach."
+
+"Fletcher and I will try and bury him, sir," said Jack.
+
+"I don't see much use in doing that," growled Tom.  "He can't feel the
+cold.  It will keep us here all the night, seeing we have no spades, nor
+anything else to dig a grave."
+
+"We might do it if we could find some boards," said Jack.  "How would
+you like to be left on shore just like a dead dog?"
+
+His good intentions, however, were frustrated, as no pieces of board
+could be found, and they were compelled at length to be satisfied with
+placing the body on a dry bank out of the reach of the water.  This
+done, they commenced their march in search of some human habitations,
+Tom and Brown supporting poor Jack, who was unable to walk without help,
+between them.
+
+The country, from the glimpse they had had of it, appeared more inviting
+to the west, but Rayner reflected that by going in that direction they
+would get farther and farther from the Spanish territory, but were they
+once to reach it, they might claim assistance from the inhabitants.  How
+many miles they were from the border neither Rayner nor Oliver was
+certain; it might be a dozen or it might be twenty or thirty.  Le Duc
+could give them no information.  It was difficult to find the way in the
+darkness; they could indeed only guide themselves by listening to the
+roar of the breakers, with an occasional glimpse of the dark ocean to
+the right.  The two officers agreed that it would be of great advantage
+to get into Spanish territory before daylight, as they would thus avoid
+being taken prisoners.  Though their object in coming on the coast was a
+peaceable one, it would be difficult to induce the authorities to
+believe that this was the case.  Le Duc promised that he would bear
+testimony to the truth of the account they intended to give of
+themselves; but, he observed, "My word may not be believed, and I myself
+may be accused of being a deserter.  The people hereabouts do not set
+much value on human life, and they may shoot us all to save themselves
+the trouble of making further inquiries."
+
+These observations, which Rayner translated to his companions, made them
+still more anxious to push on.  He and Oliver led the way with Le Duc,
+whom they desired to answer should they come suddenly on any of the
+inhabitants.
+
+They went on and on, stumbling among rocks, now forcing their way
+through a wood, now ascending a rugged slope, until they found
+themselves at what appeared to have been a sugar plantation, but
+evidently abandoned for the fences were thrown down, though the shrubs
+and bushes formed an almost impenetrable barrier.  They discovered,
+however, at last, a path.  Even that was much overgrown, though they
+managed to force their way through it.
+
+When once out of the plantation they found the road less obstructed.
+Reaching a rising ground, they eagerly looked round, hoping to see a
+light streaming from the windows of some house, where they could obtain
+the rest and food they so much required.
+
+"I think I caught sight of a glimmer among the trees.  Look there!" said
+Oliver.
+
+They took the bearings of the light, and descending the hill,
+endeavoured to direct their course towards it.  At last they reached a
+road, which they concluded must lead towards the house where the light
+had been seen.  They went on some way farther in darkness.
+
+"We are all right," cried Oliver.  "I caught sight of three lights from
+as many different windows.  That shows that it is a house of some size."
+
+"I don't know whether that would be an advantage," observed Rayner.
+"The owner may dislike the English, and refuse to receive us, or send
+off to the authorities and have us carried away to prison."
+
+"But you and Le Duc and Peek, as you speak French, may pass for
+Frenchmen; and a man must be a curmudgeon if he refuses to afford
+assistance to sailors in distress," observed Oliver.
+
+"I can't say much for Peek's French, or for my own either.  I would
+rather state at once who we are," said Rayner.  "Le Duc is an honest
+fellow, and he will explain why we came on the coast, and will tell them
+how we saved his life."
+
+Le Duc, being asked, replied that he would gladly undertake whatever the
+English officers wished, and it was arranged that as soon as they got
+near the house he should go on and ascertain the disposition of the
+inhabitants.  Should they be ill-disposed towards the English he was to
+return, and they would go on rather than run the risk of being detained
+and sent to prison.
+
+Sooner than they had expected they got close up to what was evidently a
+house of considerable size, as the lights came from windows some
+distance above the ground.  While Le Duc went forward, the rest of the
+party remained concealed under shelter of some thick bushes.  He had not
+got far when a loud barking showed that several dogs were on the watch.
+
+He advanced, however, boldly, calling to the dogs, and shouting for some
+one to come and receive him.
+
+The animals, though satisfied that he was not a thief, seemed to suspect
+that there were other persons not far off.
+
+"I say, here the brutes come," whispered Tom.  "They'll be tearing us to
+pieces.  The people in these parts, I have read, have great big
+bloodhounds to hunt the Indians with.  If they come near us we must
+knock them over."
+
+"That won't make the people inclined to treat us more kindly," answered
+Jack.  "When the dogs find we are quiet, they'll let us alone."
+
+Just then the voice of some one was heard calling the dogs, who went
+back to the house.
+
+Some time passed.  At last Le Duc's voice was heard.  It was too dark to
+see him.
+
+"It's all arranged, messieurs," he said.  "There's an old lady and two
+young ladies in the house.  I told them all about you, when they said
+that they were fond of the English, and would be very happy to give you
+shelter and food, but that you must come quietly so that no one but
+their old brown maitre d'hotel, and black girls who wait on them, should
+know that you are in the house.  Follow me, then, and just have the
+goodness to tell the men that they must behave themselves or they may be
+getting into trouble."
+
+"I'll tell them what you say," observed Rayner; and turning to the three
+seamen, he said--
+
+"Remember that though you are on shore you belong to the _Lily_, and
+are, therefore, as much under discipline as if you were on board."
+
+They now proceeded towards the house, led by Le Duc.  The two officers
+going first, they mounted the steps, and getting inside the house, they
+saw an old mulatto carrying a couple of wax candles.  He beckoned them
+with his head to follow, and led the way to an inner room, when an old
+lady advanced to meet them.  Behind her came two young ladies, whom the
+midshipmen thought very handsome, with dark flashing eyes and black
+tresses, their costumes being light and elegant, and suited to that warm
+clime.  The old lady introduced them as her daughters, Sophie and
+Virginie.  The midshipmen advanced bowing, and Rayner, who was
+spokesman, apologised for appearing in their wet and somewhat torn
+clothes.
+
+"We have received the invitation madame has been so kind as to afford
+us, and we throw ourselves on her hospitality."  He then repeated what
+he had told Le Duc to say.
+
+"You shall have your necessities supplied, and I will gladly do all I
+can to protect and help you regain your ship," she said.  "I was once
+with my daughters taken prisoner when on a voyage from France by an
+English ship-of-war, and we were treated by the English officers as if
+we had been princesses.  Ah! they were indeed true gentlemen!  They won
+our hearts;" and she sighed.  "I thought two of them would have become
+husbands of my daughters, but stern duty compelled them to sail away
+after they had landed us, and we have never heard of them since."
+
+"We will gladly convey any message to them, if you will tell us their
+names, and the ships to which they belonged," said Rayner, "should we be
+fortunate enough to fall in with them."
+
+"My daughters will tell you by-and-by," answered the old lady.  "You, I
+see, require to change your dresses, which you can do while supper is
+preparing.  My maitre d'hotel will look to your men with the help of the
+French sailor whom you sent up with your message."
+
+"One of them was hurt on board the wreck, and requires some doctoring, I
+fear," said Rayner; "he managed to drag himself, with the assistance of
+his shipmates, thus far, but he must be suffering."
+
+"Be sure that I will attend to him," answered Madame La Roche.  "I have
+some skill in surgery, and it will be a satisfaction to exercise it on
+one of your countrymen; but now Francois will conduct you to a room, and
+supply you with such garments as he can collect.  Your men in the
+meantime will be attended to."
+
+Francois on this stepped forward with his candles, and, with an
+inimitable bow, requested the young officers to follow him.  They bowing
+again to madame and her daughters, followed the maitre d'hotel, who led
+the way to a large room with two beds in it, as also a couple of cane
+sofas, several chairs, a table, and, what was of no small consequence, a
+washhand-stand.
+
+"De best ting messieurs can do will be to get into de bed while I bring
+dem some dry clothes," said Francois.
+
+Rayner and Oliver requested, however, that they might be allowed, in the
+first place, to wash their hands and faces.
+
+This done, they jumped into their respective beds, and when once there
+they agreed that, if they were not so hungry, they would infinitely
+prefer going to sleep to having to get up again and make themselves
+agreeable to the ladies.  As soon as Francois got possession of their
+clothes he hurried away, but shortly returned, bringing with him a
+supply of linen and silk stockings, and two antiquated court suits.
+They were, he said, the only costumes which he considered worthy of the
+English officers, and he begged that they would put them on without
+ceremony.
+
+Though not much inclined for merriment just then, they could not help
+laughing as they got into the white satin small clothes offered them.
+They then put on the richly-embroidered waistcoats, which, being very
+long, came down over their hips.  Their frilled shirts stuck out in
+front to a considerable distance, but when they came to the coats,
+Rayner, who had the broadest pair of shoulders, felt considerable fear
+lest he should split his across, while his hands projected some way
+beyond the ruffles which adorned the wrists.
+
+Francois assisted them in the operation of dressing, and after they had
+tied their neckcloths, he begged, with a low bow, to fasten on their
+swords.  When their costumes were complete he stepped back, and surveyed
+them with evident satisfaction.
+
+Oliver could not keep his countenance, but laughed heartily for some
+time.
+
+"It's just as well to get it over, Rayner," he said; "for otherwise I
+could not help bursting out every time I looked at you."
+
+The maitre d'hotel, however, did not appear to think there was anything
+laughable in the appearance of the two Englishmen.
+
+"Oh, messieurs! you are admirable.  Let me have the honour of conducting
+you to the saloon."  Saying this he took up the candles, and with
+stately step marched before them, until they reached a large room, in
+the centre of which was a table spread with a handsome repast.
+
+Madame La Roche, coming in, took the head of the table, and the young
+ladies, sailing like swans into the room, placed themselves by the side
+of their guests, on the strangeness of whose costumes they made not the
+slightest remark.  Rayner and Oliver had become somewhat faint from long
+fasting, but their spirits quickly revived after they had eaten some of
+the viands placed before them.  At first they supposed that the repast
+was served up solely on their account, but from the way the girls and
+their mother kept them in countenance, they were satisfied that they had
+simply come in for the family supper.
+
+Rayner talked away, now to the old lady, now to the young one at his
+side, while Oliver found that he could converse much more fluently than
+he had supposed.
+
+After a time, however, they found it very difficult to keep their eyes
+open, and Rayner heard the old lady remark to her daughters, in pitying
+accents, that "Les pauvres garcons much required rest, and that it would
+be cruel to keep them up longer than was necessary."
+
+She accordingly summoned Francois, who appeared with his huge
+candlesticks.  Wishing them good-night, the old lady advised them to
+follow the maitre d'hotel to their chamber.
+
+They bowed as well as they could, and staggered off, more asleep than
+awake.
+
+"We are certainly in clover here," remarked Oliver, as they reached
+their room; "I question whether we shall be as well treated when we
+reach Spanish territory; and I propose, if Madame La Roche is willing to
+keep us, that we take up our quarters here until Peek is better able to
+travel than he is now."
+
+"Certainly," answered Rayner, taking off his silk coat and placing his
+sword on the table.  "We'll talk of that to-morrow."
+
+They had not placed their heads on their pillows many seconds before
+they both were fast asleep.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
+
+CAPTURED.
+
+The shipwrecked midshipmen would probably have slept far into the next
+day had not Francois appeared with their clothes, nicely brushed and
+carefully mended, so that they were able to make a presentable
+appearance in their own characters before their hostesses.
+
+He had also brought them a cup of cafe-au-lait, informing them that
+breakfast would be ready as soon as they were dressed in the
+salle-a-manger.
+
+They found an abundant meal spread out, as Francois had promised.  The
+old lady and her daughters welcomed them kindly--the latter with
+wreathed smiles, the elder with a host of questions to which she did not
+wait for a reply.
+
+They were all three thorough Frenchwomen, talking, as Oliver observed,
+"thirteen to the dozen."
+
+Madame La Roche told them that she had been attending to the English
+sailor, who, she hoped, would, under her care, be quite well in a day or
+two.  "I ought to warn you not to go out.  People in these parts are not
+well affected towards the English, and should it be discovered that I am
+harbouring British officers I may get into trouble," she added.
+
+The morning passed very pleasantly.  The young ladies produced their
+guitars, and sang with good voices several French airs.  Rayner and
+Oliver thought them charming girls, and had they not felt it was their
+duty to get back to their ship as soon as possible, would gladly have
+remained in their society for an indefinite period.
+
+At last they begged leave to go down to see their men.  They were guided
+to their rooms by sounds of music and uproarious laughter.  They found
+Le Duc seated on a three-legged stool on the top of a table fiddling
+away, while old Francois, three black women, Tom and Brown, were dancing
+in the strangest possible fashion, whirling round and round, kicking up
+their heels, and joining hands, while Jack lay on a bed at the farther
+end of the room, looking as if he longed to get up and take a part in
+the dance.
+
+On seeing the strangers, Francois became as grave as a judge, and
+hurrying up to them, observed, "I thought it as well, messieurs, just to
+join in for one minute to set the young people going.  The poor sailors
+needed encouragement, and I like to make people happy."
+
+"You succeeded well, Monsieur Francois," remarked Rayner.  "I will not
+interrupt them, but I have a few words to speak to my men."
+
+He then told Tom and Brown that it was the wish of Madame La Roche that
+they should remain in the house, and not show themselves by any chance
+to the people outside.
+
+"In course, sir," said Brown.  "We are as happy as princes here.  They
+feed us with as much as we can eat, and give us a right good welcome
+too."
+
+"Take care that you don't indulge too much," said Rayner.  "We are
+obliged to you, Le Duc, for finding us such good quarters, and we shall
+be still more grateful if you will accompany us to the Spanish border.
+I conclude you will then desire to return home."
+
+"I am very much at home where I am," replied Le Duc, with a grin.  "If
+madame will accept my services, I shall be very happy to remain here.
+Perhaps one of the young ladies will fall in love with me, and I should
+prefer settling down to knocking about at sea."
+
+Rayner and Oliver were horrified at the Frenchman's impudence.
+
+"Pray do not be troubled at what I say, messieurs," said Le Duc, with
+perfect coolness.  "Such things have happened before, and one Frenchman
+here is as good as another."
+
+They saw that it would not do to discuss the matter with the seaman,
+who, it was evident, from the dishes and glasses standing on the table
+by the window, had been making himself merry with his companions.
+
+The afternoon was spent very much as the morning had been.  The young
+ladies possessed no other accomplishment than that of playing the guitar
+and dancing.  They read when they could get books, but these were mostly
+French novels, certainly not of an improving character.
+
+Rayner and Oliver could not help comparing them with Mary Crofton, and
+the comparison was greatly to her advantage.
+
+The next day, Francois, who had been out to market returned with a
+troubled countenance.  He hurried in to his mistress, who soon
+afterwards came into the room where her daughters and the young officers
+were seated.
+
+"I am sorry to say that the authorities have heard of your being in the
+neighbourhood, and have sent the gendarmes to search for you!" she
+exclaimed, in an anxious tone.  "I did not wish to drive you away, and
+am willing to try and conceal you.  At present, no one knows you are in
+the house.  You may remain in a loft between the ceiling of this room
+and the roof, where you are not likely to be found; but the place is
+low, and will, I fear, be hot in the daytime, and far from pleasant.
+Francois might manage to conduct you to a hut in the woods at no great
+distance from this, to which we could send you food; but there is the
+risk of the person who goes being seen, and your retreat being
+discovered."
+
+"We are very sorry to cause you so much trouble, madame," said Rayner.
+"It will, I think, be safest to leave this place to-night, and to try
+and make our way, as we intended, into Spanish territory."
+
+"Ah! but the distance is long--fully twenty leagues," answered Madame La
+Roche.  "You would be recognised as strangers, and probably detained by
+the mayor of a large village you must pass through."
+
+"But we must take care and not pass through any village," said Rayner.
+"We will try to make our way along bypaths.  What we should be most
+thankful for is a trustworthy guide.  Perhaps our good friend Francois
+here will find one for us."
+
+"That I will try to do," said the old mulatto.  "It is not, however,
+very easy, as few of them know much of the country to the east."
+
+"But how was it discovered that these English officers and their men
+were in the country?" asked Mademoiselle Sophie, the eldest of the young
+ladies, turning to Francois.
+
+"It appears that yesterday morning there was found on the beach the dead
+body of a seaman, who was supposed from his appearance and dress to be
+English, while the marks of numerous feet were perceived on the sand,
+some going to the west, others coming in this direction.  Those going to
+the west were traced until a party of French and black sailors were
+discovered asleep in a wood.  They stated that the vessel was French,
+captured by an English man-of-war; that she had been driven by the
+hurricane on the reef, and that it was their belief the English officers
+and crew had escaped as well as themselves, but they could not tell what
+had become of them.  The mayor, on hearing this, had despatched a party
+of gendarmes in search of the missing people.  How soon they may be here
+it is impossible to say."
+
+"But they will not be so barbarous as to carry off to prison English
+officers who come with a flag of truce, and had no hostile intentions!"
+exclaimed Virginie.
+
+"The authorities would be only too glad to get some Englishmen to
+exhibit as prisoners," said Francois.  "We must not trust them; and I
+propose that we hide away the officers and men."
+
+Just as Francois had finished giving this account, Le Duc ran into the
+room.
+
+"Oh, madame, oh messieurs!" he exclaimed, "I have seen those gendarmes
+coming along the road towards the house; they will be here presently."
+
+"Here, come this way, my friends!" cried Madame La Roche.  "Francois,
+run and get the ladder.  There may be time for you all to mount up
+before the gendarmes appear.  Call the other sailors.  The sick man is
+strong enough to move, or some one must help him.  Vite, vite!"
+
+The old lady hurried about in a state of great agitation.  Rayner and
+Oliver had serious fears that she would betray herself.
+
+Francois soon came with the ladder, which he placed in a dark corner of
+a passage, and, ascending, opened a trapdoor, and urged the party to
+mount without delay.  Oliver went up first.  Jack was able to get up
+without assistance.  Le Duc was unwilling to go until the old lady
+seized him by the arm.
+
+"Go up, my son, go up," she said.  "You will not be worse off than the
+rest."
+
+He at length unwillingly obeyed.
+
+As soon as Rayner got up, by Francois' directions he shut down the
+trapdoor.  There was just light sufficient, through a pane of glass in
+the roof, to see that the loft extended over a considerable portion of
+the building.  Part only was covered with boards, on which, according to
+the instructions given them, they laid down.  Francois had charged them
+on no account to move about, lest they should be heard by the people
+below.  The planks, however, were not placed very close together, and
+after they had been there a minute or so, Rayner discovered a glimmer of
+light coming through a broadish chink.
+
+Putting his face near it, he perceived that the old lady and her
+daughters had seated themselves at a table with their work before them,
+endeavouring to look as unconcerned as possible.
+
+He had not been in this position many minutes, when he heard some heavy
+steps coming along the passage; they entered the room, and a gruff voice
+demanded if any Englishmen had been, or still were, in the house.
+
+The old lady started to her feet with an exclamation of well-feigned
+astonishment.
+
+"What can monsieur mean?" she asked.  "Englishmen in my house!  Where
+can they have come from?  My character is well known as a true patriot.
+The enemies of France are my enemies.  Pray explain yourself more
+clearly."
+
+On this the sergeant of gendarmes began to apologise in more courteous
+language than he had at first used, explaining why he had been sent to
+look for the Englishmen who, it had been ascertained, were in that part
+of the country.
+
+"Suppose you find them, what would you do with them?" asked Madame La
+Roche.
+
+"No doubt send them to prison.  They are enemies of France, and it would
+not be wise when we can catch them to allow such to wander at large and
+commit mischief."
+
+"Very true, very true, Monsieur Sergeant," said the old lady.  "But that
+does not excuse you for accusing me of harbouring them, and coming to my
+house as if I were a traitress."
+
+The sergeant, however, was evidently persuaded, notwithstanding Madame
+La Roche's evasion, that the fugitives had been at the house, if they
+were not there still, and he insisted, with due respect to her, that it
+was his duty to make a thorough search.
+
+"As you desire it, pray obey your orders," said Madame La Roche.  "My
+maitre d'hotel will show you round the house and outbuildings, and
+wherever you wish to go.  You must excuse me on account of my age, as
+also my daughters from their youth and delicate nerves from accompanying
+you."
+
+The sergeant bowed, and said something with a laugh which Rayner did not
+hear, and the old lady, calling Francois, bade him conduct the sergeant
+and his gendarmes through the house.  "And take care that he looks into
+every corner, under the beds and in them, if he likes, so that he may be
+thoroughly satisfied," she added.
+
+"Oui, madame," answered Francois with perfect gravity.  "Come along,
+Monsieur Sergeant.  If you do not find these Englishmen of whom you
+speak, do not blame me."
+
+Rayner heard them retire from the room.  He now began to breathe more
+freely, hoping, for the sake especially of Madame La Roche, that the
+sergeant would be satisfied when they were not found in the house.
+
+The ladies went on working and talking as if nothing were happening,
+though their countenances betrayed their anxiety.  The gendarmes had
+been absent a sufficient time to make a thorough search through the
+whole of the building when Rayner heard them coming back.  Suddenly the
+sergeant stopped, and asked, in a loud voice, "What is the object of
+this ladder, my friend?"
+
+"To reach the roof from the verandah, or to enable the inmates to
+descend should the house be on fire," answered Francois, promptly.
+
+"The roof everywhere overlaps the verandah," answered the sergeant, "and
+no ladder is necessary to get out of these windows to the ground.  It
+appears to me of a length suited to reach the ceiling.  Come, show me
+any trapdoor through which I can reach the loft over the rooms.  You
+forgot, my friend, that part of the house."
+
+"A trapdoor in the ceiling!  What a strange thought of yours!" exclaimed
+Francois.  "However, perhaps you will find it, should one exist, that
+you may be satisfied on that point, and let one of your men take the
+ladder, for I am old, and it would fatigue me to carry it."
+
+One of the gendarmes took up the ladder, and he could be heard knocking
+at the ceiling in various directions.  Still Rayner hoped that they
+would not discover the dark corner, which Francois evidently had no
+intention to show them.
+
+"It must be found somewhere or other," he heard the sergeant say.  "This
+ladder is exactly suited to reach it."
+
+At last he entered the room where the ladies were seated.
+
+"Will madame have the goodness to tell me whereabouts the trapdoor is
+that leads to the roof?" he asked.
+
+"The trapdoor leading to the roof!" repeated Madame La Roche.  "It is
+not likely that an old woman, as I am, would have scrambled up there, or
+my delicate daughters either.  Surely, Monsieur Sergeant, you are
+laughing at me."
+
+The sergeant turned away, but presently one of the men exclaimed, "I
+have found it!  I have found it--here, up in this corner!"
+
+Rayner heard the men ascending, the trap was lifted, but he and his
+companions lay perfectly still, hoping that in the darkness they might
+not be perceived.
+
+But the gendarme, after waiting a few seconds to accustom his eyes to
+the dim light, began groping about until he caught hold of Tom's leg.
+Tom, dreadfully frightened, cried out in English, "Oh, dear; he's got
+me!"
+
+"Come down, messieurs, come down!" exclaimed the sergeant.  "Oh, Madame
+La Roche, you would have deceived me."
+
+Rayner and his companions were compelled to descend.  He truly felt more
+for his kind hostess and her daughters than he did for himself.  They
+might be heavily fined, if not more severely punished.  He and his
+companions had only to look forward to a prison, from which they might
+escape.
+
+With the exception of Le Duc they were all soon collected in the room
+below.  He had managed by some means to escape detection.  They were
+allowed but a short time to take leave of Madame La Roche and her
+daughters.  The sergeant having received no orders respecting the
+ladies, and satisfied at having secured his prisoners, seemed disposed
+to allow the former to remain unmolested.  They looked very melancholy,
+however.  The young ladies, as they shook hands, burst into tears.  In
+vain Madame La Roche begged that their guests might be allowed to
+partake of some refreshment before commencing their journey.  The
+sergeant would not hear of it.  He had caught the spies, and he intended
+to keep them.  If he allowed them to remain, some trick might be played,
+and they might make their escape.
+
+He at once, therefore, ordered his men to lead his prisoners to the
+courtyard of the house.
+
+"Hands off; I won't be manacled by a French jackanapes," cried Brown,
+turning round as one of the men seized his arm.  "We are five to seven,
+mayn't we knock the fellows over, sir?  We could do it easily enough,
+and get off before they came to themselves again."
+
+"I'll join you with all my heart," said Jack, "though I can't fight as
+well as I could before my ribs were stove in."
+
+"I'll tackle one of the fellows if I may take the smallest," said Tom,
+though he looked rather pale at the thought of the impending struggle.
+
+"What do you advise, Rayner?" asked Oliver.
+
+"I can advise no violence," said Rayner.  "We may succeed in mastering
+the Frenchmen, but if we did, the kind old lady here and her daughters
+would certainly suffer in consequence.  We must submit with a good
+grace, and we may possibly afterwards have an opportunity of making our
+escape without fighting."
+
+Though the Frenchmen did not understand what was said, they evidently,
+from the looks of the seamen, suspected their intentions, and drawing
+their pistols presented them at the heads of their prisoners.
+
+The ladies shrieked, fancying they were about to fire, and Tom turned
+pale.
+
+"Pray don't be alarmed," said Rayner.  "We yield to the sergeant, and
+before we go I wish, in the name of my companions and myself, to express
+to you the deep gratitude we feel for your kindness.  Farewell!"
+
+He and Oliver kissed their hands, and the sergeant made significant
+signs to them to go through the doorway.
+
+"Have I the word of you two officers and your men that you will commit
+no violence?" he asked.  "If you refuse it, I shall be under the
+necessity of binding your arms behind you."
+
+"What shall I say, Oliver?" asked Rayner.  "If we give the promise we
+lose the chance of attempting to make our escape; but then again, if our
+arms are bound no opportunity can occur."
+
+"Say then that we will attempt no violence, and submit to any directions
+he may give us," answered Oliver.
+
+Rayner spoke as Oliver advised, and the sergeant appeared satisfied, as
+he imposed no other promise.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
+
+IN PRISON, AND OUT AGAIN.
+
+The order to march was given.  The two officers went first, followed by
+Brown and Tom supporting Jack, and the gendarmes marched on either side
+of them with their bayonets fixed.
+
+Rayner and Oliver took the bearings of the house and remarked the
+country as they went along.  They found that they were proceeding
+inland, and on inquiring of the sergeant he said that they were going to
+a place called Le Trou, where other English prisoners were confined.
+
+"Are there many of them?" inquired Rayner.
+
+"Yes," answered the Frenchman, "some hundreds, I believe; for one of our
+frigates captured a ship of yours not long ago, and most of the officers
+and men who escaped death were sent there."
+
+Rayner in vain endeavoured to ascertain what English ship was spoken of,
+for he had heard of none taken by the French of late years.  The
+sergeant, however, was positive, though he did not know either the name
+of the ship or the exact time of the capture.
+
+"I suspect he has heard some old story, and he repeats it for the sake
+of annoying us," observed Oliver.
+
+"We must not let him suppose that we are cast down.  We'll try to learn
+how far off this Le Trou is."
+
+Rayner questioned the sergeant.
+
+"He says it is three days' journey.  We shall have to stop at different
+houses on the road.  That he must first take us to the mayor, or some
+official, who may perhaps send us to the governor at Leogane, by whom we
+shall be examined, and if found to be spies, we shall be shot."
+
+"Then Le Trou is not our first destination, and much will depend upon
+the character of the mayor before whom we are taken," observed Oliver.
+
+As they still continued in a northerly direction, they knew that they
+were not going to Leogane, which lay to the westward, nor were they
+increasing their distance from the Spanish border.
+
+Towards evening they reached a house of some size built, as are most of
+those in the country, on one storey, raised on a platform, with a broad
+veranda and wide projecting eaves.  At one end, however, was a circular
+tower of considerable height.
+
+"Here we shall stop, and there will be your lodging after you have been
+examined by Monsieur le Maire," said the sergeant, pointing to the
+tower.
+
+They conducted them up the steps to a hall, at one end of which was a
+baize-covered table, with a large chair and several smaller chairs on
+either side.
+
+After some time a little old gentleman in a red nightcap and flowered
+dressing-gown, with slippered feet, and spectacles on nose, entered the
+hall, followed by another in black, apparently his clerk.  Two other
+persons also came in, and took their seats at the table, while the clerk
+began to nibble his pen and shuffle his papers.
+
+The old gentleman, in a squeaky voice, inquired who were the prisoners
+now brought before him, and of what crime they were accused.
+
+The sergeant at once stepped up to the table, and giving a military
+salute, informed Monsieur le Maire how he had heard of spies being in
+the country, and how he had captured them at the house of Madame La
+Roche.
+
+"But if they are Englishmen, they cannot speak French, and we require an
+interpreter," said the mayor.  "Do any of you, my friends, understand
+the language of those detestable islanders?"
+
+No one replied.  After the remark of the mayor, it might seem a disgrace
+even to speak English.
+
+Rayner, anxious not to prolong the business, on hearing what was said,
+stepped up to the table, and observed that, as he spoke French, he
+should be happy to explain how he and his companions came into the
+country.
+
+He then gave a brief account of the circumstances which led to the
+shipwreck, and what had since occurred.  He was sorry anybody present
+should entertain ill-feelings towards the English, as for his part he
+liked France, and had a warm regard for many Frenchmen.
+
+Even the mayor was impressed, and a pleased smile came over his weazened
+features.
+
+"I am ready to believe the account you give me, and that you certainly
+are not spies," he said.  "The body of your countryman found on the
+beach proves that you were shipwrecked.  Still, as you are in the
+country, we must consider you as prisoners of war, and treat you as
+such.  For this night you must remain here, and to-morrow I will
+consider whether I will send you to Leogane or Le Trou, where you will
+wait with others of your countrymen to be exchanged."
+
+After some further remarks the examination terminated, and Rayner and
+Oliver, with the three seamen, were marched off under a guard to the
+tower.
+
+It was nearly dark, and they were conducted by the light of a lantern up
+two flights of steps to a room in an upper storey.  As far as they could
+judge, it was furnished with several pallet beds, a table, some chairs,
+and stools.
+
+"You are to remain here until to-morrow morning, messieurs, when I shall
+know in what direction to proceed.  Monsieur le Maire has ordered you
+some food, and you will, I hope, not complain of your treatment," said
+the sergeant, as he closed the door, which he locked and bolted.  They
+heard him descending.
+
+"We are better off than I should have expected," remarked Rayner,
+surveying the room by the light of the lantern which the sergeant had
+left.
+
+"The point is, Are we able to escape?" said Oliver.
+
+"You mind, sir, how we got out of the prison in France, and I don't see
+why we shouldn't get out of this place," observed Jack, going to one of
+the two narrow windows which the room contained, and looking forth.
+They were strongly-barred.  The night was dark, and he could only see
+the glimmer of a light here and there in the distance.  It was
+impossible also to ascertain the height of the window from the ground.
+
+"We will certainly try to get out," said Rayner, joining Jack at the
+window.  "Though I fear that you with your bruises and battered ribs
+will be unable to make your way on foot across the country."
+
+"Don't mind me, sir," answered Jack.  "I have no pain to speak of.  If
+the worst comes to the worst, I can but remain behind.  I shall be
+content if you and Mr Crofton and Tom and Brown make your escape."
+
+"No, no, my brave fellow," said Rayner, "we will not leave you behind.
+But before we talk of what we will do, we must try what we can do.
+These bars seem very strongly fixed into the stone, and may resist our
+attempts to get them out."
+
+"There's nothing like trying, however," observed Oliver.  "We must get
+away to-night, for if the mayor decides on sending us either to Leogane
+or Le Trou we shall have a very poor chance afterwards."
+
+They tried the bars, but all of them were deeply imbedded in the stone.
+
+"Where there's a will there's a way," observed Jack.  "We may dig out
+the lead with our knives, and if we can get one bar loose we shall soon
+wrench off the ends of the others, or bend them back enough to let us
+creep through.  Brown wouldn't make much of bending one of these iron
+bars, would you, Sam?"
+
+"I'll try what I can do," said the seaman, "especially if it's to get us
+our liberty."
+
+"Then, not to lose time, I'll make a beginning, if you'll let me, sir,"
+said Jack; and he got out his knife, but just as he had commenced
+operations, steps were heard ascending the stairs.  The door opened, and
+one of the gendarmes appeared, followed by a negro carrying a basket of
+provisions.
+
+"Monsieur le Maire does not want to starve you, and so from his
+bountiful kindness has sent you some supper," said the former.
+
+"We are much obliged to Monsieur the Mayor, but we should be still more
+so if he would set us at liberty," said Rayner.
+
+Meanwhile the black boy was spreading the table with the contents of the
+basket.
+
+The gendarme laughed.  "No, no, we are not apt to let our caged birds
+fly," he answered.  "I hope, messieurs, you will enjoy your suppers, and
+I would advise you then to take some sleep to be ready to start early in
+the morning, as soon as it is decided in what direction you are to go."
+
+Rayner thanked the gendarme, who, followed by the black boy, went out of
+the room, bolting and barring the door behind him.
+
+The men now drew their benches to the table, and Rayner and Oliver,
+taking their places, fell to with the rest, there being no necessity,
+under such circumstances, for keeping up official ceremony.
+
+Supper was quickly got through, and each man stowed away the remainder
+of the provisions in his pockets.  While they went to work with their
+knives at the bars, Rayner and Oliver examined the beds.  They were
+thankful to find that the canvas at the bottom was lashed by pieces of
+tolerably stout rope.  These, with the aid of the ticking cut into
+strips, would form a line of sufficient length and strength to enable
+them to descend, should they succeed in getting out the bars.  This,
+however, was not easily to be accomplished.  When the officers went to
+the window, they found that Jack and his companions had made little
+progress.  The bars fitted so closely into the holes that there was but
+a small quantity of lead, and without a hammer and chisel it seemed
+impossible to make the hole sufficiently large to move the bars so as to
+allow Brown to exert his strength upon them.  If the two centre
+perpendicular bars could be got out, the lowest horizontal bar might be
+sent up.  This would afford ample room for the stoutest of the party to
+get through.
+
+"We've got out of a French prison before, sir, and we'll get out now,"
+said Jack, working away.
+
+"Yes, but we were small boys then, and you, Jack, and I, would find it a
+hard matter to get through the same sized hole now that we could then,"
+observed Rayner.
+
+"That's just it, sir.  If two small boys could get out of a French
+prison, I am thinking that five well-nigh grown men can manage the job.
+We'll do it, sir, never fear.  If this stone was granite it might puzzle
+us, but it's softer than that by a long way, and I have already cut out
+some of it with my knife, though, to be sure, it does blunt it
+considerably."
+
+The progress Jack and his companions made was very small, and it was
+evident that unless they could work faster they would be unable to
+remove the bar before daylight.  Rayner and Oliver searched round the
+room for any pieces of iron which might serve the purpose of a chisel.
+They examined the bedsteads--they were formed entirely of wood.  There
+was, of course, no fireplace, or a poker might have assisted them.  They
+had just returned to the window when their ears caught the sounds of a
+few low notes from a violin, played almost directly beneath them.
+
+"Why!  I do believe that's the tune Le Duc was playing to us last
+evening," exclaimed Jack.
+
+All was again silent.  Rayner and Oliver tried to look through the bars,
+but could see nothing; all was still.  Again the notes were heard.  Jack
+whistled a few bars of the same air.  A voice from below, in a
+suppressed tone asked in French, "Have you a thin line?  Let it down."
+
+"It is Le Duc.  He has got something for us.  Maybe just what we want,"
+cried Jack.
+
+"Oui, oui," he answered.  "It will quickly be ready."
+
+The ticking of one of the mattresses was quickly cut up and formed into
+a line, which was lowered.  Rayner, who held it, felt a gentle tug, and
+as he hauled it up, what was the delight of the party to find two strong
+files!  There could be no doubt that Le Duc had formed some plan to
+assist them in escaping, or he would not have come thus furnished.
+Probably they had to thank Madame La Roche for suggesting it.  They did
+not stop, however, to discuss the matter, but set to work immediately to
+file away the bars, making as little noise as possible.  While two of
+them were thus employed, the rest walked about the room, and talked and
+laughed and sang, so as to drown the sound of the files.  Presently they
+heard from the other side of the building the loud tones of a fiddle,
+the player evidently keeping his bow going at a rapid rate.  Then came
+the sounds of laughter and the stamping of feet, as if people were
+dancing.
+
+"Why, our guards will be kept awake and we shall have no chance of
+getting off, I fear," said Oliver.
+
+"If our guards dance they will drink, and sleep afterwards, never fear,"
+answered Rayner.  "Our friend Le Duc knows what he is about.  I'm sure
+that we can trust him, or he would not have taken the trouble to bring
+us these files."
+
+The fiddle was kept going, and Brown and Jack kept time to the tunes
+with the files as they worked, laughing heartily as they did so.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Jack, "there's one bar through.  Take a spell here, Tom.
+You've helped the armourer sometimes, and know how to use a file."
+
+Tom, being as eager to get out as the rest, worked away better than he
+did on most occasions.
+
+Jack, however, soon again took the file, and in a short time announced
+that both the centre bars were cut through at the bottom.  They had next
+to file the upper bars sufficiently to enable Brown to bend them back.
+Losing patience, however, he at last seized one of them, when, placing
+his feet against the window, he bent back with all his strength.  He was
+more successful than he expected, for the iron giving way, down he fell
+on the floor with a tremendous crash, which would certainly have been
+heard by the guards below, had not their attention been drawn off by the
+fiddle of Le Duc, who was scraping away with more vehemence than ever.
+Rayner and Oliver had in the meantime been manufacturing the rope by
+which they hoped to descend to the ground.  They could measure the
+necessary length by the small line with which the files had been drawn
+up, and they had the satisfaction of finding that it was amply long
+enough for their purpose.  They now secured it to one of the remaining
+bars.  Rayner and Oliver agreed that it would be wise to descend while
+the fiddle was going.
+
+"Let me go first," said Brown.  "I am the heaviest, and if it bears me,
+it will bear any of you."
+
+Tom said nothing.  His modesty or something else prevented him from
+putting himself forward when any danger was to be encountered.
+
+Rayner himself had intended to descend first, but the rest of the party
+begged him to let some one else go, and at last Oliver led the way.
+
+Judging by the still louder scraping of Le Duc's fiddle, he must have
+suspected what they were about.  Oliver could hear the notes coming
+round from the other side of the building.  All, however, below him was
+silence and darkness.  He could not judge, as he looked down, whether he
+was to alight on hard or soft ground, whether into a ditch or stream, or
+whether they should have a fence to climb.  His chief fear was that some
+of the dogs allowed to go loose in every country house might discover
+him and his companions before they could effect their escape.
+
+All this passed through his mind as he was letting himself down the
+rope, to which he clung with arms and feet as a sailor only can cling
+with security.  He soon reached the bottom.  The ground appeared to be
+firm, and was, as far as he could judge, perfectly level.  The tower
+threw a dark shadow, in which he stood listening for any sounds which
+might indicate danger.  It had been agreed, even should one or two of
+the gendarmes come round, to spring upon them, seize their arms, and gag
+them.  As soon as his feet touched the ground, he pulled out his
+handkerchief, ready for the latter object.  Presently another came down.
+It was Brown, the best man to tackle an enemy, as his muscular strength
+was equal to any two of the rest.  No enemy appeared, however, and at
+length Rayner, who came last, reached the bottom in safety.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
+
+TRAVELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
+
+They waited and waited.  Le Duc kept fiddling away with as much
+vehemence as at first.  But they could not ascertain whether their
+guards were still dancing--the scraping of the fiddle-strings drowning
+all other sounds.
+
+At length the music became slower and slower, until only a low, moaning
+wail reached their ears.  It was of a remarkably somniferous
+character,--the cunning Le Duc had evidently some object in playing
+thus.  Presently the music ceased altogether.  Not a sound was heard,
+except the soughing of the wind round the tower.  Still their patience
+had to be tried.  Something was keeping Le Duc.
+
+At last they saw a figure coming towards the tower.  Perhaps it was not
+Le Duc.  If a stranger, they must stop his mouth.  Perhaps they might
+have to bind him.  They could cut off a sufficient length of rope for
+the purpose.
+
+He appeared to be a peasant wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a shirt,
+with a long stick or ox-goad in his hand.  They were so well concealed,
+crouching down against the wall, that he did not perceive them.
+
+Rayner and Brown were on the point of springing out to seize him, when
+he said, in a low whisper, "Don't you know me, friends?  Follow me, but
+bend down as low as you can, that if seen from the house you may be
+taken for my dogs or sheep.  Pardon me for saying so."
+
+"No necessity for that; lead on, we will follow," said Rayner.
+
+Walking upright, staff in hand, he proceeded at a good rate across the
+open space at the back of the village.  They could see the lights
+glimmering from several houses on its borders.
+
+They soon reached a stream with a long wooden bridge thrown over it.
+Here, as they would be exposed to view, the sooner they could get across
+it the better.  They hurried over, still stooping down, Le Duc walking
+erect.  At last their backs began to ache from remaining so long in a
+bent position.
+
+They were thankful when they reached the edge of a plantation, and Le
+Duc, stopping, said, "You have acted admirably, my friends.  Come on a
+little farther to a spot where we shall find some clothes in which you
+can disguise yourselves.  We can get over some leagues before daylight,
+and the inhabitants we shall then meet with are all blacks, and being
+very stupid will not discover that you are English, provided those who
+do not speak French hold their tongues."
+
+"A very right precaution," said Rayner.  After he had thanked Le Duc for
+his exertions, he added, "Remember, Brown and Fletcher, neither of you
+attempt to open your mouths except to put food into them.  If you are
+spoken to, make off, or pretend that you are deaf and dumb."
+
+After proceeding another mile or so, they reached a solitary hut,
+partially in ruins.  Le Duc here produced five bundles from behind a
+heap of rubbish, covered over with bushes.
+
+"These I brought by the desire of Madame La Roche," he said.  "She and
+her daughters, and their black girls, and old Francois, worked away very
+hard to get them finished.  They began the very moment you and the
+gendarmes left the house.  It was Mademoiselle Sophie's idea, she's a
+clever young lady.  Directly the dresses were completed, Francois and I
+started off on horseback, as we knew the road you had taken, I dressed
+as you see me, and carrying my fiddle in a bag hung round my neck.  I
+was a strolling player once, and belonged to a circus before I became a
+sailor, so I was at home on horseback, and I was at home also when
+playing my tricks off on the gendarmes.  I have keen wits and strong
+nerves, messieurs.  One without the other is of small value.  United,
+wonders can be worked.  How I did bamboozle those stupid fellows!  It
+was fortunate, however, that none of the black crew of the schooner or
+my late shipmates appeared, or I should have been discovered.  Now, put
+on these dresses, they are such as are worn by the planters of this
+country, and you can pretend you are going to a fair at Goave to buy
+mules, that is what Francois advises, and he has got a good head on his
+shoulders.  I wish that he could have come with us, but as soon as he
+had deposited these clothes he had to ride back as fast as he could to
+attend to his mistress, and I undertook the rest."
+
+"You have indeed done your part well," said Rayner.  "What shall we do
+with our own clothes?"
+
+"Do your jackets and trousers up in bundles, and carry them with you.
+You must take care, however, not to let them out of your hands,"
+answered Le Duc.
+
+As they were in a solitary place, with no chance of being overheard, the
+men, as they looked at themselves by the light of a lantern Le Duc had
+carried, though he had not until now lit it, indulged in hearty
+laughter.
+
+"You do look like an overseer, Brown," said Jack, "and I should be
+precious sorry to be a black slave when you had your whip lifted above
+my shoulders.  You'd hit mighty hard, I've a notion."
+
+As Rayner and Oliver surveyed each other, they expressed strong doubts
+whether their disguise was sufficient to enable them to pass undetected,
+and they agreed that it would be necessary to keep as much as possible
+out of the way of the inhabitants.  Still, the risk must be run.  The
+consequences of being caught would be very serious to them, yet more so
+to Le Duc, who would almost to a certainty be shot for having assisted
+in their escape.
+
+Having done up their clothes in the handkerchiefs which had contained
+the dresses they now had on, they pushed forward.
+
+Le Duc had never before been in that part of the country, but he had
+received minute directions from Francois, which helped greatly to guide
+them.
+
+At length they came to a dense jungle.  Francois had told Le Duc of
+this, and that he would find a path through it.  They hunted about for
+some time in vain.
+
+"Come this way, messieurs!" exclaimed Le Duc, at length.  "This must be
+the path Francois told me of."  He had gone a short distance to the
+southward, and now led on, feeling the way with his long stick.  The
+others followed.  The path was narrow, and the trees met overhead, so
+that they were in complete darkness.  On they went, keeping close behind
+each other, for there was no room for two to walk abreast.
+
+Le Duc walked at a good pace.  The jungle seemed interminable.  They
+must have gone on, they fancied, for two or three miles, when they found
+their feet splashing in water.
+
+"I am afraid we are getting into a swamp, messieurs," said Le Duc.  "It
+cannot be helped; we must scramble through it somehow or other.  If we
+had daylight it would be an advantage.  It won't do to stop here,
+however."
+
+The water grew deeper.  The ground had now become very soft, and they
+were often up to their knees in mud, so that their progress was greatly
+delayed.
+
+"We shall cut but a sorry appearance, messieurs, if we meet any one when
+morning breaks," observed Le Duc.  "As soon as we get to dry ground we
+must stop and put ourselves to rights."
+
+"Perhaps we shall, and it would be as well if we can wash the mud off
+our legs," said Rayner.  "But go on, my fine fellow; if this path is in
+general use it cannot be much worse than it is."
+
+Rayner was right.  In a short time the water became shallower, and soon
+afterwards they got on to firm ground.  To their very great satisfaction
+they at last found themselves out of the jungle.  Before them rose a
+hill, over which they had to climb.
+
+At the foot of the hill they came to a clear, broad stream, passing over
+a shingly bed.  Le Duc, feeling the depth with his staff, walked in.  It
+was sufficiently shallow to enable them to ford it without difficulty;
+and they took the opportunity of washing off the mud which had stuck to
+their legs in the swamp.
+
+All this time poor Jack never once complained, but he was suffering no
+small amount of pain.  His great fear was that he might have to give in
+and delay the rest.
+
+On the other side of the stream the country showed signs of cultivation.
+They passed outside several plantations, but what they were they could
+not tell; still, as they could manage to make their way to the eastward
+they went on.
+
+"We must be near the large village Francois spoke of," said Le Duc.  "He
+advised that we should go to the southward of it, as the country on that
+side is more easily traversed, and we may hope thus to get by without
+being discovered if we can pass it before daybreak."
+
+They accordingly took the direction as advised.  After going some way
+they heard the barking of dogs and saw a light gleaming, they supposed,
+from the window of a cottage, whose inmates were up early, or, perhaps,
+where some one lay dying or dead.
+
+At length the bright streaks of early dawn appeared in the sky ahead.
+
+Jack at last had to acknowledge that he could go no farther.
+
+"If we could but reach some hut or other where the blacks would take
+care of me, I would be ready to stop sooner than let you be caught,
+sir," he said, addressing Rayner.
+
+"No, I will never allow that," was the answer.  "We'll get you along a
+little farther, until we can find some place to rest in.  There's a wood
+I see ahead, and we must conceal ourselves in it until you are able to
+go on again.  If Mr Crofton likes to lead on the rest and try to get
+across the frontier, he may do so, but I'll stick by you, Jack.  Don't
+be afraid."
+
+"Thank you, Bill, thank you!" said Jack, pressing his old messmate's
+hand, scarcely knowing what he was saying, but thinking somehow that
+they were again boys together.  "You were always a brave, generous chap,
+and I know you'd never desert a shipmate."
+
+Poor Jack was getting worse every moment.  Rayner made no reply, but
+calling Brown, they helped him along between them, lifting him over the
+rough places as they made their way towards the wood.  They reached it
+just as daylight burst on the world, as it does in the tropics, the hot
+sun rushing up immediately afterwards to blaze away with intense heat.
+
+Oliver, with Le Duc and Tom, hurried on ahead to look for some place
+where they might have a chance of effectually concealing themselves.  In
+a short time Oliver came back.
+
+"We have discovered just the sort of place we want," he said.  "The
+sooner we can stow ourselves away in it the better.  Let me take your
+place and help Peek along."
+
+Rayner would not allow this.
+
+"I can support him a mile farther if necessary," he answered.
+
+In a short time, making their way through the jungle, and crossing a
+small stream which would afford them water, they saw before them a huge
+tree, upturned from the roots, forming beneath it a cavern of
+considerable size, which Le Duc and Tom were engaged in clearing out.
+There was a risk of being bitten by snakes, which might have made it
+their abode, but that could not be avoided.  Le Duc was running his
+stick into every hole he could see to drive out any which might be
+concealed.  In other respects, no better place could be found.
+
+Rayner and Brown lifted in Jack and placed him on the ground, and Rayner
+gave him some of the food they had brought from the tower.  They had
+only enough, unfortunately, for one meal.  Meantime it was better than
+nothing, and resolved to give Jack his share.
+
+The rest of the party had collected some branches and brushwood to
+conceal the entrance.  This done, they all crept in.
+
+Le Duc, who had surveyed their place of concealment from the outside,
+declared that no person not actually searching for them would suspect
+that any one was there.  No sooner had they swallowed their food than
+they all fell asleep.
+
+Rayner was the first to awaken.  He listened, but could hear no sound
+except the buzz of insects, and he knew, by the light which came in from
+the upper part of the entrance, that the sun was shining brightly.
+
+Jack was still asleep.  He was breathing easily, and appeared to be
+better; but still it was not probable that he would be able to continue
+the journey.  It would be necessary, therefore, at all events, to remain
+in the cavern all the day, but should he be well enough they might
+continue their journey at nightfall.  Their chief difficulty would be to
+procure food from the neighbouring village without exciting suspicion.
+
+Rayner was unwilling to arouse his companions.  At length, however,
+Oliver awoke; then Le Duc sat up rubbing his eyes.
+
+They consulted as to what was to be done.  Oliver agreed with Rayner
+that they must remain where they were, but Le Duc was for pushing on.
+When, however, Rayner reminded him that Jack could not possibly move as
+fast as necessary, if at all, he consented to remain.
+
+"But should the gendarmes come in this direction to look for us, we
+shall probably be discovered," he observed.
+
+"We must hope, then, that they will not come in this direction," said
+Oliver.
+
+"But what about food, monsieur?" asked Le Duc.
+
+"We must try to go without it for a few hours," answered Rayner.  "We
+shall be well rested, and must tie our handkerchiefs tightly round our
+stomachs.  I have got enough for the sick man, who requires it more than
+we do; but we must not let him know that we have none, or he will
+probably refuse to touch it."
+
+"We can at all events procure some water," said Le Duc.  "Give me your
+hats, gentlemen; they will hold as much as we want."
+
+Though Rayner and Oliver would have preferred some other means of
+obtaining the water, they willingly gave their hats to Le Duc, who crept
+out with them, and soon returned with both full to the brim.
+
+The thirst of the party being quenched, for a short time they suffered
+much less than before from the pangs of hunger.
+
+Tom and Brown were ready to do what their officers wished, only Tom
+groaned at having nothing to eat.
+
+Jack slept on while the rest again lay down.  The light which came
+through the bushes began somewhat to decrease, and Rayner saw that the
+sun was sinking behind the trees in the west.  He was watching Jack, who
+at length awoke.  The moment he opened his eyes, Rayner offered him the
+food he had kept ready in his pocket.
+
+"Come, Jack, stow this away in your inside as fast as you can, that you
+may have strength to go on as soon as it is time to start.  We don't
+intend to spend our lives here, like mice in a hole."  Jack did as he
+was bid, without asking questions.  Just as he had finished, Tom groaned
+out, "I shall die soon if I don't get something to eat."
+
+"Nonsense lad; you can hold out for a few hours longer," replied Brown.
+"I'm just as bad as you are, for that matter."
+
+Le Duc guessed what they were talking about.  He himself felt
+desperately hungry.
+
+"I tell you what, messieurs, without food we shall make slow progress.
+I'll go into the village and try to procure some.  I shall easily learn
+from some person, before I venture to enter, whether the gendarmes are
+there, and if they are not, we shall be safe for the present.  They
+will, I hope, fancying that you made your way back to the house of
+Madame La Roche, have gone off there.  We must hope for the best, and I
+will try and invent some reason for wishing to purchase food.  The kind
+lady supplied me with money, so that I shall have no difficulty on that
+score."
+
+Rayner, who in reality suffered more than any one, as he had had less to
+eat, at last consented to the proposal of Le Duc, who set off.
+
+As soon as he had gone the bushes were drawn close again.  The party sat
+in silence, anxiously waiting his return.
+
+They waited and waited.  Again it became dark.
+
+Jack declared that he felt strong enough to go on.
+
+"Yes, you may; but I could not budge an inch until I have had some
+food," growled Tom.  "I wish that that Frenchman would come back."
+
+"Shut up there, mate, and don't be grumbling.  You're not worse than the
+rest of us," said Brown.
+
+Time wore on; it was now perfectly dark.  They listened eagerly for the
+sound of Le Duc's footsteps.
+
+Rayner had made up his mind to go out and try to ascertain what had
+become of him, or at all events to obtain some food, for he felt that
+neither he nor the rest of the party could get through the night when
+travelling without it.  Later on it would be still more difficult to
+obtain, as the inhabitants would be in bed.  He thought he should be
+able to find his way back to their place of concealment; so, desiring
+the party to keep perfectly silent, he set out.  He had not gone far in
+the wood, when he heard footsteps.  He crouched down behind a tree,
+when, looking out, he saw a man, with something on his back,
+approaching.  He hoped that it was Le Duc, but it might be a stranger.
+He kept quiet.
+
+The person came nearer, now stopping, now turning on one side, now on
+the other.  It must be Le Duc, thought Rayner.  He has lost his way,
+perhaps that may account for his long absence.  Stepping from behind the
+tree, he advanced.
+
+"What are you searching for, my friend?" he asked, in French.
+
+The man stopped, and seemed inclined to run away.
+
+"Le Duc, what's the matter?" asked Rayner, in a suppressed tone.
+
+"Ah, monsieur! is it you?" cried Le Duc.  "I thought I should never find
+the place where I left you.  I saw it only in daylight.  Things look so
+different in the dark.  I have had a narrow escape, but I have got some
+food now.  If you follow my advice you will eat and set off immediately.
+Is the cave near?"
+
+"No; but I can lead you to it," answered Rayner.
+
+As they went along, Le Duc said, "When I got near the village I met an
+old black, who told me there were no strangers in the place, and that I
+might easily procure what I wanted.  I accordingly went on boldly, until
+I reached a cottage just in the outskirts.  I entered and found the
+people ready enough to sell me some bread and sausages, charging me
+three times as much as they were worth.  I also procured this straw bag
+to put them in.  While I was there packing them up several persons who
+had come in were talking, and I heard them say that a party of soldiers
+had just arrived, on their way from Leogane to Port Saint Louis in the
+bay, and that they were ordered to look out for several English spies,
+and that some blacks, who knew the Englishmen, had accompanied the
+soldiers to assist in finding them.  As soon as I heard this I hastily
+put some of the things into my bag, not waiting for the remainder, and
+hurried out of the hut.  As I did so, what was my dismay to see three of
+the soldiers, accompanied by one of the black fellows who had escaped
+from the wreck!  Were I to have run away they would have suspected me,
+so I walked on whistling, as if I had nothing to fear from them.
+
+"As mischance would have it, they were proceeding in the same direction,
+and it is my belief that they were even then going in search of you.
+Thoughtless of the consequence, I happened to whistle an air which I
+sang that night on board the schooner when we were becalmed.  The rogue
+of a black recognised it, for, turning my head, I saw him coming after
+me.  I was silent directly, and began to walk very fast.  Fortunately it
+was almost dusk, and, reaching some thick bushes, I dodged behind them.
+The black passed me and went on.  I lay quiet, and after a time he came
+back, and I heard him tell the soldiers, who had followed him, that he
+must have been mistaken; so they then proposed going back to the
+village.
+
+"I waited until they were out of hearing, and then set off to try and
+find my way to the cave, but I missed it, and have been wandering about
+ever since."
+
+No one troubled Le Duc with questions.  They were too eager to dispose
+of the contents of his bag.  They could not see what they were eating,
+but they were not inclined to be particular.  As soon as they had
+finished their meal, being told by Rayner that soldiers were in the
+neighbourhood, they begged at once to continue their journey; but Rayner
+was very doubtful whether Jack could keep up, though he declared that he
+was ready.
+
+When, however, he crept out of the cave, he was scarcely able to stand,
+much less to walk any distance.
+
+"I must remain, then," said Rayner, "and you, Oliver, go on with the
+other two men and Le Duc, and when he has seen you safely into Spanish
+territory he will, perhaps, come back and assist me and Jack Peek.  If
+he cannot, we must do our best by ourselves.  We have been in a more
+difficult position together before now, and managed to escape."
+
+Oliver, however, would not hear of this, and it was finally settled that
+the whole party should remain in their cave another night and day.
+
+Jack was very unhappy at being the cause of their detention; but Rayner
+cheered him up by reminding him that it was not his fault, and perhaps,
+after all, it was the best thing they could do.
+
+They accordingly all crept into the cave and went to sleep.
+
+In the morning light enough found its way through the bushes to enable
+them to eat breakfast.  They, of course, took care not to speak above a
+whisper, though listening all the time for the sound of footsteps; but
+as no one came near them, they hoped that their place of concealment was
+unknown to any of the villagers, who might otherwise have pointed it out
+to the soldiers.
+
+The day went by.  All the food Le Duc had brought was consumed, except a
+small portion kept for Jack.  He offered to go for more, but Rayner
+judged it imprudent to let him return to the village, where he would be
+recognised as having come on the previous evening.  They accordingly had
+to go supperless to sleep, Tom grumbling, as usual, at his hard fate.
+
+When daylight streamed into the cavern, Le Duc declared that he could
+hold out no longer, and that, both for his own sake and that of others,
+he must go and get some food.
+
+"The soldiers will have gone away by this time," he observed, "and the
+black people in the village can have no object in detaining me.  If they
+do, I will bribe them to let me off, and they know if they hand me over
+to the soldiers that they will get nothing."
+
+The hunger all were feeling and his arguments prevailed, and he set off,
+promising to be back as soon as possible, and to take care that no one
+followed him.
+
+Rayner felt some misgiving as he disappeared.  All they could do in the
+meantime was to keep close in their hole.
+
+All day they waited, but Le Duc did not return.
+
+Tom muttered, "The Frenchman has deserted us after all."
+
+Even Brown expressed some doubts about his honesty.
+
+"You never can trust those mounseers," he said in reply to Tom's remark.
+
+"Be silent there, men," said Rayner.  "Our good friend has probably
+thought it safer to hide himself, and will manage to get back at night."
+
+Night came, however, and still Le Duc did not appear.  Rayner and Oliver
+became more anxious than ever.
+
+"I must not let you fellows starve," said Rayner at last.  "I'll go out
+and try and get provisions of some sort.  Le Duc spoke of several
+cottages on the outskirts of the village, and I'll call at one of them
+and try to bribe the inhabitants, or to move their compassion; perhaps I
+may get tidings of our friend."
+
+Though either Oliver or Brown would gladly have gone instead, they knew
+that Rayner was the best person to undertake the expedition.
+
+"If I do not return before midnight, you must all set out and travel
+eastward as fast as you can.  How do you feel, Peek?  Can you manage to
+move along."
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Jack.  "I could if you were with us, but I am
+afraid if you were left behind in the grip of soldiers I shouldn't do
+much."
+
+"Don't let that idea weigh on your mind.  If I am captured and sent to
+prison, there I must remain until I am exchanged for a French officer,
+though I don't think there's much chance of my being caught."
+
+Having given his final directions, Rayner set off.
+
+He went on till he saw a light streaming through a cottage window.  The
+better sort of people were alone likely to be sitting up at that hour,
+as the poorer blacks, he knew, went to bed at sundown and rose at
+daybreak.
+
+He went up to the door and knocked.
+
+"May I come in?" he asked in French; and without waiting for an answer
+he lifted the latch.
+
+An old mulatto woman was seated spinning.  Near her sat a young girl of
+much lighter complexion, with remarkably pretty features, engaged in
+working on some pieces of female finery.  She rose as he entered, and
+the old woman uttered an exclamation of astonishment.
+
+He at once explained his errand.  He wanted food, and was ready to pay
+for it.  They would not be so hard-hearted as to refuse it to starving
+men.
+
+The girl looked at the old woman, who was apparently her grandmother.
+
+"Mon pere will soon be back.  Will monsieur object to wait?" she asked.
+
+"I have no time to wait; here, accept this," said Rayner, holding out a
+dollar which he fortunately had in his pocket.
+
+The old woman's eyes glittered.
+
+"Give monsieur what he wants, but keep enough for your father's supper
+and breakfast to-morrow.  It is strange that he should require food
+since he is so rich."
+
+"I want sufficient for several persons--anything you have got," said
+Rayner.
+
+The girl went to a shelf at the other end of the room and got down a
+couple of loaves of maize bread, some cakes, salt-fish, and fruit.
+
+"You can take some of these," she said, placing them on the table; "but
+how are you to carry them?"
+
+He had a silk handkerchief, which he produced, intending to tie up the
+provisions in.  The girl looked at it with admiration.
+
+"Perhaps you will accept this, and give me a basket, or a matting bag
+instead?" he said.
+
+She quickly produced a bag large enough to hold all the things.
+
+"Now can you give me any news of anything happening in the village?"
+
+"Yes, some soldiers have been there, and impudent fellows they were;
+some of them came to our house, and if my Pierre had been present there
+would have been a fight.  I am glad that they have gone.  It is said
+they were in search of deserters or spies, and that they had caught one
+of them, but could not find the rest.  If monsieur dislikes the military
+as much as I do, he'll keep out of their way."
+
+The girl said this in a significant manner.  Rayner thanked her and the
+old woman, and advised them to say nothing about his visit.
+
+"If we know nothing we can say nothing, eh, monsieur?  Bon voyage, and
+keep out of the way of the soldiers," whispered the girl as she let him
+out.
+
+He could not help thinking, as he hurried back towards the cave, that
+she suspected he was one of the persons the soldiers were in search of.
+Although she wished to befriend him, her father might be in a different
+mood.  There was the danger, too, that if poor Le Duc was caught, he
+might be tortured to make him confess where his companions were.  Rayner
+considered, therefore, that it would be imprudent to remain longer in
+the cave, and that it would be safer even to carry Jack, should he be
+unable to walk, than to delay their journey.
+
+He got back safely, and the food he brought soon restored the spirits of
+the party.  Even Jack declared that he was strong enough to walk a dozen
+miles if necessary.  They were in great hopes, therefore, of getting
+across the border before daybreak.  They regretted greatly the loss of
+Le Duc, who had served them so faithfully, especially as they feared
+that he himself was in danger of suffering in consequence of the
+assistance he had given them.
+
+Rayner led the way.  The stars being as bright as on the previous night,
+he had no difficulty in directing his course.  The country was much of
+the same character as that they had previously crossed.  In some parts
+they came to plantations, and could distinguish the residences of the
+proprietors.
+
+Now they had to make their way by narrow paths through jungles, now to
+wade through marshes.
+
+Jack, helped by Brown and Tom, got on better than might have been
+expected.  Rayner intended to halt for a short time at the first
+convenient spot they could reach.
+
+He had for some distance observed no signs of cultivation, when he found
+that they were passing close to a plantation.  Then there appeared a
+house on one side, then another and another.  Barking dogs came rushing
+out, and they had some difficulty in keeping them at bay.  The brutes
+followed them, however, joined by others.  A voice from a gateway
+shouted, "Who goes there?"
+
+"Friends!" answered Rayner.
+
+"Advance, friends, and show yourselves, and give the countersign," said
+a sentry, at the same time calling out the guard.
+
+To run would have been useless, besides which it is not a movement
+British officers and seamen are wont to make, except after an enemy.
+
+Rayner therefore determined to put a bold face upon the matter, advanced
+with his companions, and the next instant they found themselves
+surrounded by a body of French soldiers, whose looks, as they held up a
+couple of lanterns, were anything but satisfactory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
+
+RECAPTURED--AN UNEXPECTED RESCUE.
+
+"Whence do you come and where are you going, mes amis?" asked the
+sergeant of the guard, addressing Tom, who was nearest him.
+
+"What's that you say, old chap?" said Tom, forgetting the strict orders
+he had received to hold his tongue.
+
+"Ah, what language is that?" exclaimed the sergeant, holding up his
+lantern and examining the sailor's countenance.  "You are not a
+Frenchman, I'll vow."  He turned from one to the other, looking in the
+faces of each.  "Why, I believe these are the very men we were ordered
+to search for.  Seize them all.  Take care that none escape.  There are
+five of them, the very number we were told of, and one, the traitor, we
+have already got.  Can any of you speak French? though I doubt it."
+
+"Should you be satisfied, monsieur sergeant, if we do speak French, and
+better French than many of the people about here?" asked Rayner.  "If
+so, will you let us go on our journey? do we look like English sailors?"
+
+"I don't know how English sailors generally look," said the sergeant,
+gruffly, and rather taken aback at being suddenly addressed in his own
+language.  "You certainly have the appearance of overseers, or people of
+that sort, but your countenances betray you.  I am not to be deceived.
+Bring them along into the guard-room."
+
+In vain Rayner pleaded that he and his companions were in a hurry to
+proceed on their journey.
+
+They were dragged into the building, and a guard with fixed bayonets was
+placed over them.  For the remainder of the night they had to sit on a
+hard bench, with their backs against the wall, sleeping as well as they
+could in so uncomfortable a position.  At daybreak the next morning
+Sergeant Gabot, by whom they had been captured, entering the room,
+ordered the guard to bring them along into the presence of Captain
+Dupuis.  The seamen, imitating their officers, quietly followed the
+sergeant, who led the way to a room in the same building.  Here Captain
+Dupuis, a fierce-looking gentleman wearing a huge pair of moustaches,
+and a long sword by his side, was found seated at a table with two other
+officers.
+
+He cast his eye over the prisoners and inquired their names.  Here was a
+puzzle, for neither Rayner nor Oliver had thought of assuming French
+ones.  They, therefore, without hesitation, gave their own, as did Jack.
+
+"Please, sir, what does the chap say?" asked Brown, when the officer
+addressed him.
+
+"He wishes to know your name," said Oliver.
+
+Captain Dupuis, twirling his moustaches, took them down as well as he
+could.
+
+"These names do not sound like those of Frenchmen," he said.
+
+"And such we do not pretend to be," replied Rayner, stepping forward.
+"We found it necessary to assume these disguises for the sake of
+escaping from prison.  We are not spies, and have no desire to injure
+France or Frenchmen except in open warfare."
+
+He then gave an account of their object in approaching the coast and the
+way in which they had been so unwillingly compelled to land.
+
+"I am inclined to believe you, monsieur," said Captain Dupuis, more
+politely than at first.  "But my duty is to convey you to Port Louis,
+where my regiment is stationed, and the colonel will decide on your
+case.  We will march directly."
+
+Captain Dupuis appeared not to be ill-disposed, for he ordered some
+breakfast to be brought to them in the hall.
+
+"Thank you for your kindness, monsieur," said Rayner.  "With your
+permission we will put on our proper dresses, which are contained in
+these bundles."
+
+"Assuredly you have my leave.  It will show the people that we have two
+English officers in captivity, as well as some of their men, and
+probably the report will be spread that an English frigate and her crew
+have been taken," observed the captain, laughing.
+
+"Well, I do feel more like myself now," exclaimed Brown, as he put on
+his shirt and jacket, and tied his black handkerchief in a lover's knot
+round his throat.
+
+Rayner and Oliver, though they did not say so, felt very much as their
+men did, thankful to throw off their disguises.
+
+As soon as they had finished breakfast, the soldiers fell in, the
+prisoners being placed in the centre, and with the captain at their head
+they commenced their march to the southward.
+
+It was not until late in the evening that they arrived at their
+destination.  There were three old-fashioned forts, one intended to
+support the other, commanding the entrance of the bay.
+
+Rayner and Oliver, as they approached, took note of their position, and
+they remarked that the water appeared to be deep close up to the heights
+on which the forts were situated.  In the largest were several
+buildings, the residence of the commandant, the barracks, and a small
+edifice with strongly-barred windows, which they soon discovered to be a
+prison.
+
+They were halted in front of these buildings, while the captain went in
+to make his report to the commandant.  After waiting some time they were
+marched in between guards with fixed bayonets.
+
+Their examination was very similar to that which they had before gone
+through.  Rayner and Oliver, however, hoped that their account of
+themselves would be believed, and that they would, even at the worst,
+only be detained as prisoners-of-war.  Still, they did not quite like
+the looks of the commandant, who was evidently of a more savage
+disposition than his subordinate.  He glared at the English, and
+declared they he believed they were capable of the most abominable acts
+of treachery and deceit.
+
+Rayner replied calmly, and pointed out how improbable it was that he and
+his companions should have landed for any sinister object.
+
+"If you come not as spies yourselves, you come to land French spies.
+Miscreant traitors to their country!" exclaimed the commandant.  "One of
+them has been caught.  Death will be the penalty of his crime.  Bring
+forward the witnesses."
+
+As he spoke the soldiers stepped aside and two black seamen were led
+forward.  Rayner recognised them as the most ruffianly of the schooner's
+crew.  First one, and then the other, swore that the vessel had been
+sent to the coast for the purpose of landing some French spies, that the
+schooner was to wait for them, and then when they had gained information
+as to the strength of the forts and vessels in the harbours they were to
+return to the frigate.
+
+In vain Rayner explained the truth.  The commandant scornfully answered
+that he could not believe an English officer upon his oath, that he
+should send a report of their capture to Leogane, and that for his part
+he hoped that he should have orders to shoot them all forthwith.
+
+The mock examination terminated, they were marched away to the prison on
+the other side of the fort.  The door being opened, they were
+unceremoniously thrust in, one after the other, and it was closed behind
+them.  As it was by this time growing dusk, and there were only small,
+narrow windows close under the roof, they were left in almost perfect
+obscurity, so that they could not venture to move from the spot where
+they stood.  As, however, their eyes got accustomed to the gloom, they
+found that they were in a room about twelve or fourteen feet square, the
+floor and sides being of roughly hewn stone.  Round it ran a stone
+bench, just above which they could see several massive iron rings fixed
+in the walls.
+
+"While we have light we had better pick out the cleanest spots we can
+find," said Oliver.  "We shall be kept here to-night, at all events, and
+the surly commandant will not allow us any luxuries."
+
+As they moved a few paces forward, they saw three persons chained to the
+wall at the farther end of the room.
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"Alas! alas!" exclaimed one of them, leaning eagerly forward; and they
+recognised Le Duc's voice.  "Ah, messieurs, you will understand the less
+said the better as to the past."
+
+Rayner took the hint, guessing that Le Duc was unwilling to have
+anything said in the presence of the two other prisoners which might
+implicate Madame La Roche or Francois.
+
+"You have heard, messieurs, that they have condemned me to death,"
+continued Le Duc, "and the wonder is that they have not shot me already,
+but I know that at any moment I may be led out.  I should wish to live
+that I may play the fiddle and make others happy as well as myself."
+
+"I am very sorry to hear this.  If the commandant would believe us, we
+can prove your innocence, and, surely, our word ought to be taken
+instead of that of the two blacks," said Rayner.
+
+"So it would, according to law, for the evidence of the blacks is worth
+nothing, and is not received in a court of justice.  It proves that the
+commandant has resolved, at all costs, to wreak his hatred of the
+English on your heads."
+
+Rayner and Oliver seated themselves on the stone bench near him.  The
+men had drawn together on the opposite corner.  Le Duc narrated how he
+had been captured just as he was quitting the village.  His great fear
+had been lest he should be compelled to betray them; and he declared to
+Rayner, who believed him, that he would have undergone any torture
+rather than have done so.
+
+Le Duc whispered that the two other prisoners had been condemned for
+murder.
+
+"Pleasant sort of companions," observed Oliver.  "We may as well let
+them have their side of the prison to themselves."
+
+The men in the meantime had scraped the seat as clean as they could with
+their knives.
+
+Tom, as usual, began to grumble.
+
+"We must take the rough and the smooth together," observed Jack.  "I am
+hungry enough myself, and I hope the mounseers don't intend to starve
+us, though maybe we shan't get roast beef and plum pudding."
+
+"Don't talk of it," cried Brown; "I could eat half an ox if I had the
+chance."
+
+While they were talking the door opened, and a man appeared, carrying a
+lantern and a pitcher in one hand, and a basket in the other, which he
+placed on the bench near them.
+
+The pitcher contained water, and the basket some very brown,
+heavy-looking bread, with a couple of tin mugs.  Having allowed the
+other prisoners to drink, and given each of them a piece of bread, he
+handed the basket with its contents to the Englishmen.
+
+"You Anglais like ros' beef.  Here you eat this.  Good enough for you,"
+he said, in a surly tone.
+
+They were all too hungry to refuse the bread or the water, which, in
+spite of its brackish taste, quenched the thirst from which they had
+long been suffering.
+
+Their gaoler left them the lantern, in order that they might see how to
+divide the bread.  It assisted them also to select places on which to
+stretch themselves round the room, and, in spite of the hardness of
+their couches, in a short time were all asleep.
+
+Some more bread and water was brought them in the morning, and a similar
+unpalatable meal was provided in the afternoon.  This was evidently to
+be their only food during their imprisonment.  They had no one to
+complain to, no means of obtaining redress; so, like wise men, they made
+up their minds to bear it, though Tom grumbled and growled all day long
+at the way in which he was treated.
+
+Rayner supposed that the commandant was waiting for a reply to the
+report he had sent to Leogane.  Until that could arrive, no change
+either for the better or worse was likely to be made in their treatment.
+
+Le Duc was still allowed to live; but, in spite of his high spirits, the
+feeling that he might at any moment be led out and shot was telling upon
+him.  The two officers and Jack did their best to encourage him, and,
+under the circumstances, it was wonderful how he kept up.  In the
+evening the gaoler appeared with their usual fare.
+
+"There will be one less of you to feed to-morrow," he growled out,
+looking at Le Duc, "and I can't say but that you five others mayn't have
+to join him company, for while the firing party are out it is as easy to
+shoot six as one."
+
+Le Duc made no answer, but bent his head down on his manacled hands.  It
+was the first sign of deep emotion he had exhibited.
+
+"I hope the fellow is only trying to alarm you for the purpose of
+exercising his own bad feelings," said Rayner, after the surly gaoler
+had gone.
+
+Again left in darkness, they prepared to pass another disagreeable
+night.  Rayner felt that their position was critical in the extreme.  He
+and his companions, accused as they were of being spies, might be led
+out at any moment and shot.  He therefore considered it his duty to
+prepare his companions as best he could for the worst.  Oliver he knew
+was as ready to die as he was himself.  He spoke earnestly and
+faithfully to the others, pointing out the unspeakable importance of
+being prepared to stand in the presence of the Judge of all men.  He was
+thankful to hear Jack's reply, which expressed the simple hope of the
+Christian--faith in Christ as a Saviour; but the other two were silent.
+
+After Rayner and his companions had talked for some time they stretched
+themselves on the bench to try and obtain some sleep.  That was more
+easily sought for than found, for no sooner were they quiet than
+countless creatures began to sting, and bite, and crawl over them.  Tom
+was continually slapping himself, and moaning and groaning.
+
+But, in spite of their hard stone couches and the attacks of the
+insects, they did manage to drop off occasionally.
+
+Rayner's eyes had been closed some time when he was awakened by the dull
+roar of a gun fired from seaward.  He started up, as did his companions.
+
+"Where did that come from?" exclaimed Oliver.
+
+Before Rayner could answer, the sound of eight or nine guns, a sloop's
+whole broadside, was heard, followed by the crash of the shot as they
+struck the fortification.
+
+In an instant the whole fort was in an uproar, the officers shouting
+their orders to the men, and the men calling to each other, as they
+rushed from their quarters to the ramparts.  They had evidently been
+found napping, for before a single gun had been discharged from the
+fort, the shot from another broadside came plunging into it.
+
+The game, however, was not to be all on one side.  The Frenchmen's guns
+were heard going off as fast as they could get their matches ready.
+They could easily be distinguished by the far louder noise they made.
+Those from the two other forts at the same time could be heard firing
+away.  Cries and shrieks rose from wounded men, and a loud explosion, as
+if a gun had burst, rent the air.
+
+"The vessel attacking is a corvette," cried Rayner.  "She must have run
+close in for her shot to strike in the way they are doing.  It is a bold
+enterprise, and I pray she may be successful for her sake as well as
+ours."
+
+"Can she be the _Ariel_ or _Lily_?" asked Oliver.
+
+"Whichever she is, the attempt would not have been made without good
+hope of success," remarked Rayner.
+
+"I wish that we were out of this, and aboard her," exclaimed Jack.
+
+"So do I," cried Brown.  "I don't like being boxed up here while such
+work is going on.  Couldn't we manage to break out?"
+
+"We are safe here, and we'd better remain where we are," said Tom; "only
+I hope none of those round shot will find their way into this place."
+
+On the impulse of the moment Jack and Brown made a rush at the door, but
+it was far too strongly bolted to allow them to break it open.  The
+other prisoners sat with their hands before them, hoping probably, as
+Tom did, that no shot would find its way among them.
+
+Rayner and Oliver looked up at the windows near the roof, but they were
+strongly-barred and too narrow to enable a grown man to squeeze through
+them.  To sit down quietly seemed impossible.  They stood therefore
+listening, and trying to make out by the sounds which reached their ears
+how the fight was going.  Presently some more guns were heard coming
+from the sea.
+
+"There must be another vessel!" exclaimed Rayner.  "Hark! she must be
+engaging the upper fort.  I thought that one would scarcely venture
+singly to attack the three forts."
+
+The roar of the artillery continued.  Suddenly there burst forth a loud
+thundering sound.  The ground beneath their feet shook, the walls
+trembled, and the roof seemed about to fall on their heads, while the
+glare of a vivid flame penetrating through the windows lighted up the
+whole interior of the building, shrieks, groans, and cries echoing
+through the fort.
+
+The magazine had blown up.  It was a wonder that the prison itself had
+not been hurled to the ground.
+
+"Thank Heaven, we have escaped!" exclaimed Oliver.
+
+The attacking vessels still continued firing, and after a short interval
+the fort once more replied, but evidently with fewer guns than before.
+
+A crash was heard over their heads, and down fell a mass of timber,
+plank, and tiles just above the door.  Looking up, the clear sky could
+be seen, from out of which a crescent moon shone brightly.
+
+No one was injured, for the shot, having torn its way through the roof,
+had fallen outside.
+
+"Hurrah! thanks to that shot, we may make our escape out of this, for
+the Frenchmen are too much engaged at the guns to see us!" cried Jack.
+"Let us get down to the shore, and when we are once there we may manage
+to find our way aboard the ship.  The chances are we shall find some
+fishing boat or other on the beach.  May we try, sir, what we can do?"
+
+"What do you say, Oliver?  Shall we make the attempt Jack proposes?"
+asked Rayner.  "If we go we must take Le Duc with us, I wish that we
+could find something to knock off his chains, and we might set the other
+poor fellows at liberty."
+
+To climb out would be no difficult matter, as Brown found that by
+standing on Tom's and Jack's shoulders he could reach the lower part of
+the roof.  But Rayner positively refused to go without first setting Le
+Duc at liberty.  He told Brown to try and dislodge a piece of stone from
+the wall with which they might break the prisoners' chains.
+
+Suddenly Tom recollected that he had stowed away one of the files which
+Le Duc himself had brought in his pocket.
+
+"Hand it here," cried Rayner; and heat once began filing away.
+
+In the meantime Brown managed to get hold of one of the upper stones of
+the wall.  It was hard, and had a sharp side.
+
+"Here it is, sir," he said, clambering down and bringing it to Rayner.
+A few blows on the bench served to sever the link already partly filed
+through.
+
+"Oh! set us free, monsieur?" cried the other prisoners.
+
+"What does he say?" asked Brown.
+
+"There won't be time to set you both free, but I'll see what I can do
+for one of you;" and he began filing away, and with the help of the
+stone he managed to liberate the arm of one of the men.
+
+"Here, take the file and see what you can do for your comrade," he said.
+
+The rest of the party had in the meantime begun to mount the wall.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
+
+NEW ADVENTURES AND SUCCESSES.
+
+As Oliver, who went first, had just got to the top, his attention was
+attracted by loud shouts coming from the rear of the fort.  Above them
+quickly rose a hearty British cheer.  Showers of bullets came flying
+through the air.  The shouts and cries increased.  Amid the clash of
+steel, and the sharp crack of pistols, the voices of the officers
+reached him calling the men to abandon the guns and defend the fort.
+But it was too late.  Already a strong party of blue-jackets and marines
+were inside.
+
+The gate in the rear, insufficiently protected, had evidently been taken
+by a rush.  The Frenchmen, as they always do, fought bravely, but
+hurrying up without order, many of them without muskets, they were
+driven back.
+
+Even had they been better disciplined, nothing could have withstood the
+fierce onslaught of the British.  Numbers of the defenders were seen to
+fall, their officers being killed or made prisoners.  Most of the
+remainder, taking to flight, crept through the embrasures or leapt over
+the parapet.
+
+Directly Oliver announced what was going on, the rest of the party were
+more eager than ever to get out.  Jack was the last drawn up, and they
+all, with Le Duc, dropped on the ground.
+
+"Hullo! here's a firelock, and a bayonet at the end of it," said Brown,
+picking up a musket which the sentry had probably thrown down when
+making his escape.  "Hurrah, boys! we'll charge the mounseers, and make
+them wish they'd never set eyes on us."
+
+Brown, in his eagerness, would have set off without waiting for his
+companions.  Three muskets were found piled close outside of the prison,
+and a little way off lay the body of an officer who had been shot while
+making his way to the rear.
+
+Rayner took possession of his sword.  The victorious assailants were now
+sweeping onwards towards the farther end of the fort, in which direction
+most of the garrison had fled.
+
+At the other end Rayner observed a group of men, either undecided how to
+act or waiting an opportunity to attack the British in the rear, for
+they could now see by the increasing daylight that it was but a small
+party which had surprised the fort.
+
+Brown had seen them also, and, excited at finding himself at liberty,
+rushed forward with his musket at the charge, without waiting for his
+companions.
+
+They, however, coming out from behind the buildings, were following in
+the rear.
+
+On seeing them approach, a French officer, stepping forward, shouted out
+that they surrendered.  Brown, not understanding his object, still
+charged on, and whisking his sword out of his hand, would have run him
+through had he not slipped and fallen, while the rest of the party,
+supposing he had been killed, retreated out of the way of the bold
+seaman.
+
+"Get up, old fellow, and defend yourself," cried Brown.  "I'm not the
+chap to strike a man when he's down;" and as he spoke he picked up the
+officer's sword, and, helping him to his feet, presented it to him.  All
+this was done so rapidly that Rayner and his companions arrived only
+just in time to prevent Brown, who had stepped back a few paces, from
+making a lunge with his bayonet at the astonished Frenchman, who, now
+seeing an officer, though he did not recognise Rayner, again cried out
+that he surrendered, and skipping out of Brown's way offered his sword.
+
+The rest of the garrison, seeing the storming party, who had now swept
+round, coming towards them, threw down their arms, and cried for
+quarter, while the officers, amongst whom were Captain Dupuis and
+Sergeant Gabot, presented their swords to Rayner and Oliver.  They,
+turning round, had the satisfaction of greeting Lieutenant Horrocks and
+other officers of the _Lily_ and _Ariel_.
+
+"Glad to see you, Rayner and Crofton.  We all thought you were dead.  No
+time to ask how you escaped.  We've got to take those two other forts.
+If you like you can come with us.  Crofton, you can take charge of the
+prisoners.  I'll leave Sergeant Maloney and a dozen men with you.  The
+rest follow me."
+
+Saying this, the first lieutenant of the _Lily_ led his men on to the
+attack of the other fort still engaged with the _Ariel_, Rushing on,
+they were up to the rear of it before the garrison were aware of the
+capture of the larger fort.  By a sudden dash it was taken as the former
+had been, the _British_ not losing a single man, though several of its
+defenders, attempting to stand their ground, were cut down.  A rocket
+let off the moment they were in was the signal to the _Ariel_ to cease
+firing.
+
+The third fort higher up, towards which she had hitherto only
+occasionally fired a gun, now engaged her entire attention.
+
+The increasing light showed the garrison the _British_ flags flying
+above the ramparts of the two other forts, yet they showed no signs of
+giving in.  Though the guns were well placed for defence on the west
+side, the rear offered a weak point.
+
+Without halting, Lieutenant Horrocks led his men towards it.
+
+"Lads, we must be over those ramparts in five minutes," he said,
+pointing to them with his sword.
+
+"In two, if you please, sir!" shouted the men.
+
+Rayner, who was among those leading, cheered, and springing forward,
+leapt into the ditch and began climbing up the bank on the opposite
+side.
+
+The blue-jackets of his own ship eagerly pressed after him.  He was the
+first at the top, and with a dozen others who had followed him closely,
+leapt down among a number of the garrison who, leaving their guns, had
+hurriedly collected to oppose them.  In vain the defenders attempted to
+resist the impetuous attack.  Fresh assailants, among the first of whom
+was Lieutenant Horrocks, came on, and inch by inch driven back; and
+seeing that all further resistance was useless, the Frenchmen threw down
+their arms and cried for quarter.
+
+It was now daylight, and there was still much to be done.  The prisoners
+had to be collected, the forts blown up, and the men embarked.
+
+Lieutenant Horrocks gave Rayner the satisfactory intelligence that two
+privateers had been captured at the entrance of the harbour by the boats
+without firing a shot.  The crews, however, had resisted when boarded,
+and two officers, one of whom was Lieutenant Lascelles, had been badly
+wounded.
+
+"Poor fellow! if he recovers I don't think he will be fit for service
+for some time," said the first lieutenant.  "I shall have to report the
+gallant way in which you assisted in the capture of the fort."
+
+The prisoners being collected from the three forts, and assembled on the
+beach, Captain Saltwell came on shore and offered the officers their
+liberty and permission to carry away any of their private property on
+condition of their pledging their word of honour not to serve against
+the English again during the war.  This they willingly gave.
+
+The men also were to be dismissed, though it was useless to make terms
+which they would not have it in their power to keep.  The wounded were
+collected, and the garrison were allowed to carry off such materials as
+could be easily removed for forming huts and tents to shelter them.
+
+On going through the fort, Rayner and Oliver looked into the prison.
+The two captives had made their escape.  Le Duc had hitherto remained
+with the English.  He naturally feared that he should be considered a
+traitor should he venture among his own countrymen.
+
+"But ah, messieurs, I love France as well as ever; and though I regard
+the English as brothers after the treatment I have received from them, I
+would not injure her or her people."
+
+Rayner therefore proposed that he should come on board the _Lily_ and
+remain at Jamaica until he could return home.
+
+The last scene had now to be enacted.
+
+The marines and parties of seamen had been employed for some hours in
+digging holes under the fortifications, which were then filled with
+casks of powder, the whole being connected by carefully laid trains.
+The men were next embarked.  One boat alone remained under each fort,
+the gunner and boatswain of the _Lily_ and a warrant officer of the
+_Ariel_ being ordered to fire the trains.
+
+Rayner had taken command of one of the _Lily's_ boats.  The men waited
+with their oars in their hands, ready to shove off at a moment's notice.
+Mr Coles, the gunnel, who was in Rayner's boat, ascended the bank
+match in hand.  Presently he was seen rushing down again, faster
+probably than he had ever moved before.
+
+"No time to lose, sir," he shouted, as he leapt on board.  "The fuse in
+this hot country burns faster than I calculated on."
+
+"Give way, lads!" cried Rayner.
+
+The men bent to their oars.  The other boats were seen pulling away at
+the same time.  They had not got twenty fathoms from the shore, when a
+thundering report was heard, and up rose a portion of the large fort,
+filling the air with masses of stone and earth, and dust and smoke.
+
+In another second or two the other forts followed suit.  The whole
+atmosphere was filled with a dense black cloud and masses of lurid flame
+beneath, while thundering reports in rapid succession rent the air.  A
+few seconds afterwards down came showers of stone and earth and pieces
+of burning timber, just astern of the boats.  Had there been any delay
+they must have been overwhelmed.  Fortunately they all escaped injury,
+and pulled away for their ships, which, with the prizes, had in the
+meantime got under way and were standing out of the harbour.
+
+After a quick run the _Ariel_ and _Lily_ reached Port Royal to repair
+damages.  Rayner was sent for on board the flagship.
+
+"I have great pleasure in handing you your commission as lieutenant,"
+said the admiral.  "You have won it by your general meritorious conduct,
+as also by the gallantry you displayed in the capture of Fort Louis.  I
+have appointed you as second lieutenant of the _Lily_, and shall be very
+glad in another year or two to hear that you have obtained your
+commander's rank."
+
+These remarks of the admiral were indeed encouraging.  Rayner, of
+course, said what was proper in return, and pocketing his commission,
+bowed and took his departure for the shore, which he had to visit to
+obtain a new uniform and other articles.
+
+Lascelles had been removed to the hospital, where he was to remain until
+he was sufficiently recovered to go home.  Rayner's only regret was
+being parted from Oliver, the dangers they had gone through together
+having united them like brothers.
+
+While, however, their ships were refitting they were constantly in each
+other's society.
+
+"I wish that I had the chance of getting appointed to your ship," said
+Oliver.  "The _Ariel_ will soon be going home, but for the sake of being
+with you I should be glad to remain out another year or two.  I am well
+seasoned by this time, and have no fear of Yellow Jack."
+
+Not many days after this the senior mate of the _Lily_ was taken very
+ill while on shore.  His shipmates declared that it was in consequence
+of his chagrin at finding that Rayner had obtained his promotion before
+him.  They were heartily sorry at having made so unkind a remark, when
+in two days news were received on board that the poor fellow had fallen
+a victim to yellow fever.
+
+Rayner at once advised Oliver to make application for the vacancy.  He
+did so; the admiral appointed him to the _Lily_, and Captain Saltwell
+was very glad to have him on board.
+
+Le Duc, who had been landed at Kingston, came on board one day while the
+ship was fitting out and begged to speak to the second lieutenant,
+Monsieur Rayner.
+
+"Ah, monsieur, the first thing I did on landing was to purchase a
+violin, and the next to play it, and I have fiddled with such good
+effect that I have played my way into the heart of a Creole young lady
+whose father is wonderfully rich, and as I can turn my hand to other
+things besides fiddling, he has accepted me as his daughter's husband,
+and we are to be married soon.  I propose settling at Kingston as
+professor of music and dancing, teacher of languages, and other polite
+arts; besides which I can make fiddles, harpsichords, and other
+instruments; I am also a first-rate cook.  Indeed, monsieur lieutenant,
+I should blush were I to speak more of my accomplishments."
+
+"I congratulate you heartily," said Rayner, "and I sincerely hope that
+you will be successful in your new condition.  You will, I doubt not, be
+far happier living on shore with a charming young wife, than knocking
+about at sea with the chance of being shot or drowned."
+
+Le Duc having communicated his good fortune to Jack and his other
+friends, and invited them to pay him a visit whenever they could get on
+shore, took his leave.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
+
+FRESH SUCCESSES AND PERILS.
+
+Our hero had now got the first step up the ratlines as an officer.  As
+the _Lily's_ repairs were likely to occupy some time, Captain Saltwell
+had, by the admiral's permission, fitted out one of the prizes, a fine
+and fast little schooner, to which the name of the _Active_ had been
+given.  He intended to man her from his own and the _Ariel's_ crews, and
+to send her cruising in search of the piratical craft which, under the
+guise of privateers, in vast numbers infested those seas.
+
+The admiral had intended to send a _protege_ of his own in charge of the
+vessel, but that officer was taken ill, and both Lieutenant Horrocks and
+the first lieutenant of the _Ariel_ were engaged in attending to their
+respective ships.
+
+Rayner was sent for, and the command was offered to him.  He accepted it
+with delight, and begged that Crofton might be allowed to accompany him.
+He took also Jack and Brown, and though he did not ask for Tom
+Fletcher, Tom was sent among the men drafted for the purpose.
+
+The schooner was furnished with four carronades and two long
+six-pounders.  Her crew mustered twenty men.
+
+"We can dare and do anything in such a craft as this," he exclaimed,
+enthusiastically, as he and Oliver were walking the deck together, while
+the schooner, under all sail, was steering a course for San Domingo.
+
+Before long they both dared and did several gallant actions.  Just as
+they had sighted the land they fell in with three piratical feluccas,
+either one of which was a match for the _Active_.
+
+One, after a desperate resistance, was captured, another was sunk, and
+the third, while the British crew were securing their first prize, and
+endeavouring to save the drowning men, effected her escape.  She was,
+however, shortly afterwards taken, and on the return of the _Active_ to
+Port Royal with her prizes, the thanks of the merchants of Jamaica were
+offered to Lieutenant Rayner for the service he had rendered to
+commerce.
+
+The admiral the next day sent for Rayner, and received him with more
+cordiality than is generally awarded to junior officers.  Having
+listened to his report, and commended him for his gallantry.
+
+"How soon will you be ready to sail again?" he asked.
+
+"Directly our damages have been repaired, and they won't take long,
+sir," was the answer.
+
+"That is right.  I have received information that a desperate fellow in
+command of a craft somewhat larger than the _Active_ has been pillaging
+vessels of all nations, and it will be a feather in your cap if you take
+her."
+
+"I'll do my best, sir," answered Rayner.
+
+In two days the _Active_ was again at sea.  Within a fortnight, after a
+long chase, she had fought and driven on shore a large schooner, got her
+off again, and recaptured two of her prizes, returning in triumph with
+all three to Jamaica.
+
+He and Oliver were highly complimented on their success.  The admiral,
+who was still in the harbour, invited them to dine on board the
+flagship.
+
+"Mr Horrocks has just obtained his promotion, and you are thus, Mr
+Rayner, first lieutenant of the _Lily_; and, Mr Crofton, I intend to
+give you an acting order as second lieutenant, and I hope that before
+long you will be confirmed in your rank."
+
+This was good news.  With happy hearts the two friends went on board the
+_Lily_, which was now ready for sea.  They found Lieutenant Horrocks
+packing up, ready to go on board a frigate just sailing for England.
+
+"I expect to enjoy a few weeks' hunting before I get a ship, and when I
+do get one I shall be very glad to have you, Rayner, with me, should you
+be unemployed," he said as they parted.
+
+Rayner would have preferred retaining the command of the _Active_, but
+an officer older than himself was appointed to her, and he could not
+complain.
+
+Once more the _Lily_ was at sea.  She cruised for some months, during
+which she captured several prizes, and cut out two others in a very
+gallant manner under the guns of a strong battery.  Oliver soon
+afterwards had the satisfaction of being confirmed in his rank as
+lieutenant.
+
+Though Commander Saltwell made honourable mention of our hero on each
+occasion, he received no further recognition of his services.  "I have
+no business to complain," he observed.  "My position is only that of
+many others who have done more than I have, but I should like to be
+wearing an epaulette on my right shoulder when we get home, and obtain a
+command with you, Oliver, as my first lieutenant."
+
+With this exception, Rayner never alluded to the subject.
+
+The _Lily's_ cruise was nearly up.  She had lately sent away in her
+prizes her master and several petty officers and seamen, so that out of
+her establishment she could scarcely muster more than a hundred men.
+
+It was night, a light breeze blowing, the island of Desirade bearing
+south-east by south, distant six or seven leagues.  The two lieutenants
+had been talking of home.  In a few months they expected to be at
+Plymouth, and Rayner's thoughts had been occupied, as they often were,
+with his brother officer's sweet sister, Mary Crofton.
+
+Rayner had just come on deck to relieve Oliver, who had the middle
+watch.  He had been pacing the deck, waiting for daylight, to commence
+the morning operation of washing decks, and was looking to windward,
+when, as the light slowly increased, at some little distance off he made
+out the dim outline of a large ship.  Whether she was a friend or foe he
+could not determine; if the latter, the position of the _Lily_ was
+critical in the extreme.  He instantly sent the midshipman of the watch
+to arouse the commander, who hurried on deck.  After watching the
+stranger for a few seconds, they both came to the conclusion that she
+was a frigate, and, as they knew of no English vessel of her class
+likely to be thereabouts, that she was French.
+
+"Turn the hands up and make sail," said the commander.  "We shall
+probably have to fight, but when the odds are so decidedly against us,
+it is my duty to avoid an action if I can."
+
+The crew at the boatswain's summons came tumbling up from below.  All
+sail was immediately made, and the _Lily's_ head directed to the
+north-west.  She was seen, however, and quickly followed by the frigate,
+the freshening breeze giving an advantage to the larger vessel, which,
+having the weather-gauge, and sailing remarkably fast rapidly
+approached.
+
+"We've caught a Tartar at last!" exclaimed Tom.  "The sooner we go below
+and put on our best clothes he better; we shall be taken aboard her
+before the day's much older."
+
+"How do you dare to say that!" cried Jack.  "Look up there, you see our
+flag flying aloft, and I for one would sooner have our tight little
+craft sent to the bottom than be ordered to strike it.  Our skipper
+hasn't given in yet, and if he falls our first lieutenant will fight the
+ship as long as he has a plank to stand on."
+
+Some of the crew, however, appeared to side with Tom, and showed an
+inclination to desert their guns.
+
+Rayner and Oliver went among them and cheered them up.
+
+"Lads!" cried the commander, who had observed some of them wavering as
+they gazed with looks of alarm at their powerful enemy, "most of you
+have sailed in the _Lily_ with me since she was first commissioned.  You
+know that I have never exposed your lives unnecessarily, and that we
+have always succeeded in whatever we have undertaken.  You have gained a
+name for yourselves and our ship, and I hope you will not sully that
+name by showing the white feather.  Although yonder ship is twice as big
+as we are, still we must try to beat her off, and it will not be my
+fault if we don't."
+
+The men cheered heartily, and went to their guns.  Every preparation for
+battle being made--to the surprise of her own crew, and much more so to
+that of the Frenchman--the commandant ordered her to be hove-to.
+
+"Don't fire a shot until I tell you, lads!" he cried out.
+
+Many looked at the stranger with anxious eyes; the flag of France was
+flying from her peak.  Eighteen guns grinned out from her ports on
+either side--twice the number of those carried by the _Lily_, and of a
+far heavier calibre.  As she got within range she opened fire, her shot
+flying through the _Lily's_ sails, cutting her rigging and injuring
+several of her spars, but her guns were so elevated that not a man was
+hit on deck.
+
+"Steady, lads!  We must wait until she gets near enough to make every
+one of our guns tell!" cried the commander.
+
+Even when going into action a British seaman often indulges in jokes,
+but on this occasion every man maintained a grim silence.
+
+"Now, lads!" shouted the commander, "give it them!"
+
+At the short distance the enemy now was from them the broadside told
+with terrible effect, the shot crashing through her ports and sides,
+while the shrieks and groans of the wounded were clearly distinguished
+from the _Lily's_ deck.
+
+The British crew, working with redoubled energy, hauled their guns in
+and out, and fired with wonderful rapidity, truly tossing them about as
+if they had been playthings.  The French also fired, but far more
+slowly, sending hardly one shot to the _Lily's_ two.  The officers went
+about the deck encouraging the men and laying hold of the tackles to
+assist them in their labours.  At any moment a well-directed broadside
+from the frigate might leave the corvette a mere wreck on the ocean, or
+send her to the bottom.  Every man on board knew this; but while their
+officers kept their flag flying at the peak, they were ready to work
+their guns and struggle to the last.
+
+An hour and a half had passed since the French frigate had opened her
+fire, and still the little sloop held out.  Commander Saltwell's great
+object was to avoid being run down or boarded.  This he managed to do by
+skilful manoeuvring.  At length Rayner, through his glass, observed the
+crew of the frigate running about her deck as if in considerable
+confusion.  Once more the _Lily_ fired, but what was the astonishment of
+the British seamen to see her haul her main-tack aboard and begin to
+make all sail, putting her head to the northward.  To follow was
+impossible, as the _Lily_ had every brace and bowline, all her after
+backstays, several of her lower shrouds, and other parts of her rigging,
+shot away.
+
+Her sails were also torn, her mainmast and main-topsail yard and
+foreyard a good deal injured.  Yet though she had received these serious
+damages aloft, strange to say one man alone of her crew had been
+slightly injured.
+
+"We must repair damages, lads, and then go and look after the enemy,"
+cried the commander.
+
+The guns being run in and secured, every officer, man, and boy set to
+work, the commander with the rest.  In a wonderfully short time the
+standing rigging was knotted or spliced, fresh running rigging rove, new
+sails bent, and the _Lily_ was standing in the direction in which her
+late antagonist had some time before disappeared.
+
+Not long after, however, the man at the mast-head discovered a large
+ship on the lee beam in the direction of Guadaloupe.  The _Lily_ at once
+steered towards the stranger, when in the afternoon she came up with a
+vessel under French colours, which endeavoured to escape.  Several shots
+were fired.  The stranger sailed on.
+
+"She looks like an English ship," observed the commander.  "It will
+never do to let her get away.  See what you can do, Crofton."
+
+Oliver went forward and trained the foremost gun.  He fired, and down
+came the stranger's main-topsail yard.  On this she hauled down her
+colours and hove-to.
+
+She proved to be, as the commander had supposed, a large English
+merchantman, a prize to the French frigate.  The prisoners were at once
+removed, and the second lieutenant sent with a prize crew on board, when
+the _Lily_ took her in tow.  The wind was light, but a heavy swell sent
+the prize several times almost aboard the corvette, which was at length
+compelled to cast her adrift.
+
+The next morning the look-out from the mast-head of the _Lily_ announced
+a sail on the lee bow.  In a short time, daylight increasing, she was
+seen to be a frigate, and no doubt her late antagonist.  Captain
+Saltwell at once bore down on her, making a signal to the prize to do so
+likewise, and at the same time running up several signals as if speaking
+another ship to windward.
+
+On this the frigate, making all sail, stood away, and as she had the
+heels both of the _Lily_ and her prize, was soon out of sight.
+
+Captain Saltwell, satisfied, as he had every reason to be, with his
+achievement, ordered the course to be shared for Jamaica.
+
+On his arrival he found his commission as post-captain waiting for him.
+He had won it by constant and hard service.
+
+"As I cannot reward you for the gallant way in which you beat off the
+French frigate and recaptured the merchant ship worth several thousand
+pounds, I must see what can be done for your first lieutenant," said the
+admiral.  "I will apply for his promotion, and in the meantime will give
+him an acting order to command the _Lily_, and to take her home."
+
+Captain Saltwell, thanking the admiral, expressed his intention to take
+a passage in his old ship.
+
+The news quickly spread fore and aft that the _Lily_ was to be sent
+home.  Loud cheers rose from many a stout throat, the invalids, of which
+there were not a few, joining in the chorus from below.  One-third of
+those who had come out had either fallen fighting in the many actions in
+which she had been engaged, or, struck down by yellow fever, lay in the
+graveyard of Port Royal.  No time was lost in getting fresh water and
+provisions on board.
+
+Never did crew work with more good-will than they did on this occasion.
+
+The _Lily_ was soon ready for sea, and with a fair breeze ran out of
+Port Royal harbour.  The war was still raging as furiously as ever, and
+the officers and crew well knew that before they could reach the shores
+of old England they might have another battle or two to fight.  Perhaps,
+in their heart of hearts, they would have preferred, for once in a way,
+a peaceful voyage.  A look-out, however, was kept, but the Atlantic was
+crossed, and the chops of the Channel reached, without meeting a foe.
+Here the _Lily_ encountered a strong easterly gale, and in vain for many
+days endeavoured to beat up to her destination.
+
+Having sighted Scilly, she was standing off the land, from which she was
+at a considerable distance under close-reefed topsails, when the wind
+suddenly dropped, and soon afterwards shifted to the southwards.  The
+helm was put down, and the crew flew aloft to shake out the reefs.
+
+They were thus engaged when a sail was seen to the south-east.  The
+_Lily_, standing on the opposite tack, rapidly neared her.  Every glass
+on board was directed towards the stranger.  She was a ship apparently
+of much the same size as the _Lily_, but whether an English cruiser or
+an enemy it was difficult to determine.
+
+The _Lily_, by keeping away, might have weathered the Lizard and avoided
+her.  Such an idea did not enter the young commander's head.  On the
+contrary, he kept the ship close to the wind, so that by again going
+about he might prevent the stranger from passing him.
+
+His glass had never been off her.  Suddenly he exclaimed, "Hurrah! she's
+French.  I caught sight of her flag as she luffed up!  Hands about ship!
+We'll fight her, Captain Saltwell?" he added, turning to his former
+commander.
+
+"No doubt about it," said Captain Saltwell, "I should if I were in your
+place."
+
+The drum beat to quarters, the crew hurried to their stations, and every
+preparation was made for the expected battle.  The stranger, after
+standing on some way, hauled up, so as to keep the weather-gauge, and,
+at the same time; to draw the _Lily_ farther away from the English
+coast.
+
+Once more the latter tacked, and passing under the stranger's stern,
+poured in a raking broadside.
+
+The stranger, coming about, returned the fire; but as the shot flew from
+her guns down came her mizenmast, and she fell off before the wind.
+
+The crew of the _Lily_ cheered, and running in their guns, quickly fired
+a third broadside.
+
+The two ships now ran on side by side, Rayner having shortened sail so
+as to avoid shooting ahead of his antagonist.  Notwithstanding the loss
+of their mizenmast, the Frenchmen fought with spirit for some time, but
+their fire at length began to slacken, while the British seamen
+continued to work their guns with the same energy as at first.
+
+Rayner now ordered the mizen-topsail and spanker to be set, and directed
+the crews of the starboard guns to refrain from firing until he should
+give the word; then putting down the helm, he suddenly luffed up, and
+stood across the bows of his opponent.
+
+"Fire!" he cried; and gun after gun was fired in succession, the shot
+telling with fearful effect as they swept the deck of the French ship.
+The latter put down her helm in a vain attempt to avoid being raked, but
+her bowsprit catching in the mizen rigging of the _Lily_, Oliver,
+calling to Jack and several other men, securely lashed it there, in
+spite of the fire which the marines from the enemy's forecastle opened
+on him and his companions.
+
+The bullets from the Frenchmen's muskets came rattling sharply on board.
+Two of the seamen were hit, and just at the same moment their young
+commander was seen to fall.  A midshipman and the purser, who were
+standing by his side, caught him in their arms.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+"Keep at it, my lads, until she strikes!" cried the young commander, as
+he fell.
+
+Captain Saltwell had meantime, seeing what would occur, ordered two guns
+to be run out at the after ports.  Scarcely had they been fired when an
+officer, springing into the forecastle of the French ship, waved his hat
+and shouted that they had struck.
+
+Oliver and Jack, on looking round for Rayner, and seeing him bleeding on
+the deck, forgetful of everything else, sprang aft to his side.  At that
+moment the crew raised a cheer of victory; Rayner feebly attempted to
+join in it.  He was carried below.  With anxious hearts his officers and
+crew waited to hear the report of the surgeon.
+
+It was Oliver's duty to go on board and take possession of the prize.
+Unwillingly he left his friend's side.  Of the _Lily's_ crew five had
+been killed, and many more beside her commander, wounded.  But Oliver
+saw, as he stepped on board the prize, how much more severely she had
+suffered.  Everywhere lay dead and dying men.  How dread and terrible a
+fact is war!  A lieutenant, coming forward, presented his sword.
+
+"My captain lies there," he said, pointing to a form covered by a flag.
+"The second lieutenant is wounded below; three other officers are among
+the dead.  We did not yield while we had a chance of victory."
+
+"Yours is a brave nation, and I must compliment you on the gallant way
+in which you fought your ship," answered Oliver, in the best French he
+could command.
+
+To lose no time, the prisoners were removed, the prize taken in tow, and
+all sail made for Plymouth.
+
+At length the surgeon come on deck.
+
+"The commander will do well, I trust," he said; "but I shall be glad to
+get him on shore as soon as possible.  As soon as I had extracted the
+bullet, he sent me off to look after the other wounded men, saying that
+they wanted my care as well as he did."
+
+The crew on this gave a suppressed cheer.  It would have been louder and
+more prolonged, but they were afraid of disturbing the commander and the
+other wounded men.
+
+All were proud of their achievement as they sailed up Plymouth Sound
+with their prize in tow, but no one felt prouder than Jack Peek.
+
+"I knew Captain would do something as soon as he had the chance," he had
+remarked to Brown, who greatly shared his feelings.
+
+Rayner was at once removed to the hospital.  As he was unable to hold a
+pen, Captain Saltwell wrote the despatches, taking care to give due
+credit to the active commander of the corvette.
+
+A short time afterwards Oliver carried to the hospital--to which he had
+never failed to pay a daily visit--an official-looking letter.
+
+"Ah! that will do him more good than my doctoring," said the surgeon, to
+whom he showed it.
+
+Oliver opened it at Rayner's request.  It was from the Lords of the
+Admiralty, confirming him in his rank, and appointing him to command the
+_Urania_ (the English name given to the prize), which, being a fine new
+corvette, a hundred tons larger than the _Lily_, had been bought into
+the service.
+
+"It will take some time to refit her, and you will, I hope, be about
+again before she is ready for sea," said Oliver.  "I have brought a
+message from my mother, who begs, as soon as you are ready to be
+removed, that you will come and stay at our house.  She is a good nurse,
+and you will enjoy more country air than you can here."
+
+Rayner very gladly accepted the invitation.  Neither Oliver nor Mrs
+Crofton had thought about the result, but before many weeks were over
+Commander William Rayner was engaged to marry Mary Crofton, who had
+given him as loving and gentle a heart as ever beat in woman's bosom.
+He told her how often he had talked about her when away at sea, and how
+often he had thought of her, although he had scarcely dared to hope that
+she would marry one who had been a London street boy and powder monkey.
+
+"I love you, my dear Bill, for what you are, for being noble, true, and
+brave, and such you were when you were a powder monkey, as you call it,
+although you might not have discovered those qualities in yourself."
+
+He was now well able to marry, for his agents had in their hands several
+thousand pounds of prize-money, and he might reasonably hope to obtain
+much more before the war was over.
+
+Our hero was well enough to assume the command of the _Urania_ by the
+time she was ready for sea.  Oliver, as his first lieutenant, had been
+busily engaged in obtaining hands, and had secured many of the _Lily's_
+former crew.  The commander had some time before sent for Jack Peek, and
+urged him to prepare himself for obtaining a boatswain's warrant.
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Jack; "but, you see, to get it I must read and
+write, and that's what I never could tackle.  I have tried pothooks and
+hangers, but my fingers get all cramped up, and the pen splits open, and
+I have to let it drop, and make a great big splash of ink on the paper;
+and as for reading, I've tried that too.  I know all the letters when I
+see them, but I can't manage to put them together in the right fashion,
+and never could get beyond a, b, ab, b, o, bo.  I might in time, if I
+was to stick to it, I know, and I'll try when we are at sea if I can get
+a messmate to teach me.  But while you're afloat I'd rather be your
+coxswain, if you'll give me that rating; then I can always be with you,
+and, mayhap, render you some service, which is just the thing I should
+be proud of doing.  Now, sir, there's Tom Fletcher; he's got plenty of
+learning, and he ought to be a good seaman by this time.  If you were to
+recommend him to be either a gunner or a boatswain, he'd pass fast
+enough."
+
+Rayner shook his head.  "I should be happy to serve Tom Fletcher for old
+acquaintance' sake, but I fear that although he may have the learning,
+as you say, he has not got the moral qualities necessary to make a good
+warrant officer.  However, send him to me, and I'll have a talk with him
+on the subject."
+
+Jack promised to look after Tom, whom he had not seen since the _Lily_
+was paid off.  He returned in a few days, saying that he had long
+searched for him in vain, until at length he had found him in a low
+house in the lowest of the Plymouth slums, his prize-money, to the
+amount of nearly a hundred pounds, all gone, and he himself so drunk
+that he could not understand the message Jack brought him.
+
+"I am truly sorry to hear it," said Rayner.  "But you must watch him and
+try to get him on board.  If he is cast adrift he must inevitably be
+lost, but we will try what we can do to reform him."
+
+"I will gladly do my best, sir," answered Jack.  When the _Urania_ was
+nearly ready for sea, Jack did contrive to get Tom aboard of her, but
+the commander's good intentions were frustrated, for before the ship
+sailed he deserted with could not again be discovered.
+
+Of this Rayner was thankful, as he must of necessity have done what
+would have gone greatly against his feelings--ordered Tom a flogging.
+
+Honest Brown, however, who had gone to school as soon as the _Lily_ was
+paid off; received what he well deserved, his warrant as boatswain of
+the corvette he had helped to win.  He had shortly to go to sea in a
+dashing frigate, and from that he was transferred to a seventy-four, in
+which he was engaged in several of England's greatest battles.
+
+Some years passed, when after paying off the _Urania_, as Rayner was
+passing along a street in Exeter, he heard a stentorian voice singing a
+verse of a sea ditty.  The singer, dressed as a seaman, carried on his
+head the model of a full-rigged ship, which he rocked to and fro,
+keeping time to the tune.  He had two wooden legs in the shape of
+mopsticks, and was supporting himself with a crutch, while with the hand
+at liberty he held out a battered hat to receive the contributions of
+his audience.  Occasionally, when numbers gathered round to listen to
+him, he exchanged his song for a yarn.  As Rayner approached he was
+saying, "This is the way our government treats our brave seamen.  Here
+was I fighting nobly for my king and country, when a Frenchman's shot
+spoilt both my legs, and I was left to stump off as best I could on
+these here timber toes without a shiner in my pocket, robbed of all my
+hard-earned prize-money.  But you good people will, I know, be kind to
+poor Jack, and fill this here hat of his with coppers to give him a
+crust of bread and a sup to comfort his old heart.
+
+  "`Come all ye jolly sailors bold,
+  Whose hearts are cast in honour's mould,
+  While England's glory I unfold,
+  Huzza to the _Arethusa_!'"
+
+Suddenly he recognised Captain Rayner, who, from being dressed in plain
+clothes, he had not at first observed.  He started, and then began, with
+an impudent leer, "Now, mates, I'll spin you another yarn about an
+English captain who now holds his head mighty high, and would not
+condescend to speak to poor Jack if he was to meet him.  We was
+powder-monkeys together, that captain and I.  But luck is everything.
+He went up, and I went down.  That's the way at sea.  If all men had
+their deserts I should be where he is, in command of a fine frigate, in
+a fair way of becoming an admiral.  But it's no use complaining, and so
+I'll sing on--
+
+  "`The famed _Belle Poule_ straight ahead did lie,
+  The _Arethusa_ seemed to fly,
+  Not a brace, or a tack, or a sheet did we slack
+  On board of the _Arethusa_.'"
+
+"No, no, mate, you was not aboard the _Arethusa_!" cried Jack Peek, who
+had followed his captain at a short distance, and looking Tom in the
+face.  "You was not aboard the _Arethusa_.  I'll tell you what kept you
+down.  It was conceit, idleness, drink, and cowardice; and I'll tell you
+what gave our brave captain his first lift in the service.  It was his
+truthfulness, his good sense, his obedience to the orders of his
+superiors.  It was his soberness, his bravery; and if you, with your
+learning and advantages, had been like him, you too might have been in
+command of a dashing frigate, and not stumping about on one wooden leg,
+with the other tied up to deceive the people.  It's hard things I'm
+saying, I know, but I cannot stand by and hear a fellow who ought to
+know better running monstrous falsehoods off his reel as you have been
+doing.  You might have borne up for Greenwich, and been looked after by
+a grateful country; or you might have saved money enough to have kept
+yourself in comfort to the end of your days; but it all went in drink
+and debauchery, and now you abuse the government for not looking after
+you.  Howsumdever, Tom Fletcher, I'm very sorry for you, and if you'll
+knock off this sort of vagabond life, which brings disgrace on the name
+of a British sailor, I'll answer for it our good captain will exert his
+influence and get you a berth in Greenwich or elsewhere, for he has
+often spoken about you, and wondered where you were a-serving."
+
+Jack Peek had probably never made so long a speech in his life.  It was
+perhaps too long, for it enabled the old sailor to recover his presence
+of mind, and looking at Jack with a brazen countenance, he declared that
+he had never seen him before, when off he went as fast as he could walk
+on his wooden stumps, and turning down a by-lane was lost to view.
+
+Jack had to hurry on to overtake his captain.  It was the last time he
+saw Tom Fletcher alive; but he afterwards heard that a man answering his
+description, who had been sent to prison as a rogue and a vagabond, had
+subsequently been killed in a drunken quarrel with another seaman of the
+same character.
+
+Jack had followed his old friend and captain from ship to ship, and at
+length having overcome the difficulty not only of the alphabet, but of
+pothooks and hangers, he obtained his warrant, and for several years had
+charge of one of the ships in which he had fought and bled, now laid up
+in Portsmouth harbour.
+
+In the course of years there was found in the list of English Admirals
+the names of Sir William Rayner, KCB, John Saltwell, and Oliver Crofton.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's From Powder Monkey to Admiral, by W.H.G. Kingston
+
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