ready for you. And now let us hope that our
third meeting will be completely happy."

"Victor," said Helene in a dissatisfied tone, "I should like to see a
little more of my father."

"Ten minutes more or less may bring up a French frigate. However, so be
it, we shall have a little fun. The men find things dull."

"Oh, father, go!" cried Helene, "and take these keepsakes from me to my
sister and brothers and--mother," she added. She caught up a handful of
jewels and precious stones, folded them in an Indian shawl, and timidly
held it out.

"But what shall I say to them from you?" asked he. Her hesitation on the
word "mother" seemed to have struck him.

"Oh! can you doubt me? I pray for their happiness every day."

"Helene," he began, as he watched her closely, "how if we should not
meet again? Shall I never know why you left us?"

"That secret is not mine," she answered gravely. "Even if I had the
right to tell it, perhaps I should not. For ten years I was more
miserable than words can say--"

She broke off, and gave her father the presents for her family. The
General had acquired tolerably easy views as to booty in the course of
a soldier's career, so he took Helene's gifts and comforted himself with
the reflection that the Parisian captain was sure to wage war against
the Spaniards as an honorable man, under the influence of Helene's pure
and high-minded nature. His passion for courage carried all before it.
It was ridiculous, he thought, to be squeamish in the matter; so he
shook hands cordially with his captor, and kissed Helene, his only
daughter, with a soldier's expansiveness; letting fall a tear on the
face with the proud, strong look that once he had loved to see. "The
Parisian," deeply moved, brought the children for his blessing. The
parting was over, the last good-bye was a long farewell look, with
something of tender regret on either side.

A strange sight to seaward met the General's eyes. The _Saint-Ferdinand_
was blazing like a huge bonfire. The men told off to sink the Spanish
brig had found a cargo of rum on board; and as the _Othello_ was already
amply supplied, had lighted a floating bowl of punch on the high seas,
by way of a joke; a pleasantry pardonable enough in sailors, who hail
any chance excitement as a relief from the apparent monotony of life
at sea. As the General went over the side into the long-boat of the
_Saint-Ferdinand_, manned by six vigorous rowers, he could not help