Part 29 (1/2)

Tom undertook to plead for them with the cook hialley 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; ”Iat 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 heaveout, 'Don't;' so they let side a cutter, on board which ere taken and looked after below Shortly afterwards ent in chase of a French craft of the saot away, and we then steered for Plyuardshi+p, where we remained soate, the _Thisbe_, of which, to reat satisfaction, I found that Mr Saltwell had been appointed first lieutenant Thinking that, as we had shared a common misfortune, he would stand entleed he would have me put on the quarter-deck He told ood a chance as others; but here I am set to scrape potatoes and clean pots and pans It's a shareat 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 hi obtained for them the broth and biscuits

They had scarcely finished their alley fire

A short time afterwards the dru the shi+p ready for action

Jack and Bill expected that they would be eh, 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-azine, when they heard their na, told them that the first lieutenant had directed that they should turn in below and take so for theladly obeyed the order

Bill ain should the shi+p go into action, but in less than two minutes drowsiness overtook him, and he went fast asleep

He drea, and the crew shouting, and that he got up and found that the frigate had taken the Frenchate ht

When Bill really awoke, the light was streah the fore-hatchway He roused up Jack, as there was no one below to call the on deck they discovered the crew at their quarters, and the French frigate aluns

She was to leeward, for the as still in its former quarter, and she had just then hauled up and backed her

She was now seen to carry four uns 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 shi+p 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, ere eazine, 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 To?” asked Toenerally do, only I am rather peckish,” answered Jack ”I e had had ti the ”

”I hope not,” said Toer 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 e licked the Frenchain; but I say, Tom, what makes you look so melancholy?”

”Do I? Well, if you want to knoas thinking of ho I had not run off to sea I've had a ate It was o back when I was last on shore I had the chance, but was asha about that sort of thing now,” said Jack ”We shall be fighting the Frenchrape 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”