Part 45 (2/2)

Perhaps a vessel is approaching us We should not be sleeping;' while the ainst ain to fall asleep, if I could avoid it, until daylight I believe, however, that I frequently dropped off, but I was preserved Whendawned, I discovered that the man who had, as I believed, intended to kill me was utterly unable to est of the party He got up, and stretching out his ar 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 weit,' 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 todown, they could not for soer support myself, and once more sank on the raft In a short tian 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 lish sloop-of-war, and saw you haul up towards us”

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

A shi+PWRECK

The _Lily_ had been continuing her cruise in the Caribbean Sea for solish shi+p-of-war, nor had she taken a prize Oliver Crofton had completely recovered As one of the midshi+pmen was ill, he took his duty Our hero and Oliver soon became fast friends, and they ell able to appreciate each other's good qualities

Co upon the Frenchht of prisoners, wished to put them on shore as soon as possible

He resolved, therefore, to stand in towards the coast of San Doed 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 soreed with hi this, the schooner wore, and, setting a large square sail, ran off before the wind to the ard Though the stranger evidently possessed a fast pair of heels, the _Lily_,over the water close under her counter The schooner, notwithstanding, still held on, when another shot alrazed 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 coun 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 tiun was loaded and pointed through the larboard bow port

Still the chase held on It was ti

”Are you ready there, forward, with the gun?” asked the commander

”Ay, ay, sir!” was the answer

”Port the helun ell aie squaresail The shi+p 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 eing the produce of the plantations to some central depot