UNT OF HIS SHIPMATES--THE CHAMPION SAILS--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT
HOME--THE OUZEL GALLEY PREPARING FOR SEA--RETURN OF THE CHAMPION--SAILS
AGAIN--OWEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--MR. FERRIS AND
ELLEN GO TO DUBLIN--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--NORAH'S LIFE AT HOME--MR.
FERRIS INTENDS TO GO TO JAMAICA--THE OUZEL GALLEY COMES BACK, AND
CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO ROUND IN HER TO DUBLIN.

"News, Norah! I bring you news, Miss Ellen," cried Gerald, rushing into
the drawing-room where his sister and her friend were seated. "I have
just heard that a man-of-war has brought up inside the harbour, with her
main-topmast gone and her sails riddled with shot. They say that she is
the _Champion_, and that she has had a desperate action with a French
ship, which she sent to the bottom, or which got away from her. Which
was the case, I can't exactly make out, but she has lost I don't know
how many officers and seamen, for there hasn't been such a bloody fight
since the war began. The wounded, I hear, are to be sent on shore, and
we shall thus, I suppose, know all about the matter."

Ellen turned pale as Gerald was speaking. "Have you heard who the
killed and wounded are?" she asked, in a trembling voice.

"No; I could only learn the name of the ship, and that there has been a
sharp action there can be no doubt," answered Gerald.

"Perhaps Gerald's account is exaggerated," remarked Norah, observing
Ellen's agitation. "If the ship is the _Champion_, Mr Ferris is sure
to go down and visit her; he will ascertain the truth of the report."

"I must--I must go and tell him what has happened, in case he should not
have heard it," said Ellen, rising. She found Mr Ferris in his
counting-house, on the ground-floor. He immediately ordered his boat,
and telling Ellen that, should he find any wounded officers who might
require to be cared for on shore, he would bring them up, he desired her
to make preparations for their reception. Gerald, who was on the
look-out for him, begged that he might accompany him on board. The
boat, with six stout hands, rapidly made her way down the river.

Ellen and Norah, like good housewives, lost no time in seeing the spare
rooms got ready for their expected guests. The occupation tended to
relieve Ellen's mind.

"Perhaps, after all, there may be no wounded officers," said Norah.
"Gerald's account was very vague--people nearly always exaggerate
disasters."

"But I saw the beginning o