Part 28 (1/2)

”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 French 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 crehich 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,” exclai out;”

and he could scarcely refrain froht 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 Frenchnal 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 co 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 ht and carried back”

”Well, we'll hear all about it by-and-by Coate, but we must not delay for that purpose,” exclaimed the officer

Jack and Bill quickly tuh, as soon as they were on board, they cast wistful glances at their raft

The officer ordered the ate 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 fishi+ng-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, as the third lieutenant of the frigate, had learned the greater part of their history by the tiot up to her