Part 30 (1/2)

”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 knohen they are beaten”

Toh of it, as he looked along the deck and saw nu 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 histhe killed was the second lieutenant, a ether of the two hundred and fifty th, forty were either killed outright or were severely wounded

Just then, however, the survivors were too much occupied to think about the et the shi+p to rights, and all were eagerly looking out for a breeze that they er as any one for the fight He felt that he was soood service in saving the life of the first lieutenant, though he did not exactly expect any reward in consequence It seerown suddenly from a powder monkey into a man Still the calainst thelike a polished e of the French, who had thus longer tilish were soon ready to renew the action

What, however, ht not happen in the ht it possible that the French squadronhave been heard, and a breeze spring up from that direction, which it was very likely to do, the Frenchht be down upon the anxiously out in every direction for signs of a breeze Occasionally reports were brought to hieons had as s, setting broken li up flesh wounds Such are the horrors of war! Howto the number of the killed and wounded!

It was nearly noon when the captain exclaimed, ”Here comes a breeze!

Trim sails, my lads!” The ate began slowly to onist

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 co; 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 coot away even had he wished, for his foretopes he had received aloft

Nearer and nearer the _Thisbe_ drew to the enemy, still the looked-for word of coot close up to her The French, also, for soh the _Thisbe_ ithin 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 toup on their larboard quarter Their guns which they could bring to bear were trained high for the purpose ; but though soh, and a few ropes cut away, no e was received The breeze at that instant freshened, and the _Thisbe_ glided rapidly on

”Give it the put to starboard the whole of the _Thisbe's_ broadside was brought to bear with terrible effect on the eneuns 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 froain her broadside was fired, but no return can 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 fore round and shaking each other heartily by the hand; so up their caps, and others,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