ay,
captain?"

Owen examined the signal-book. "`Fleet to make all sail and steer for
Jamaica'--that is what we are doing, though, and few of the vessels can
carry more canvas than at present," he answered.

Some, however, were seen setting royals and studding-sails. Every ship
in the fleet pressed forward over the calm blue waters with all the sail
she could carry. The sight was a beautiful one, as the canvas shone in
the rays of the bright sun darting from a cloudless sky and Ellen
likened them to swans of snowy plumage gliding over some inland lake.
She felt less anxiety than did either Mr Foley or Owen, who saw more
clearly the danger to which the _Champion_ was exposed. Already the
guns of the enemy were heard as they opened on their small antagonist,
while she returned them with her stern-chasers.

"By the way the enemy are firing, their aim is to wing the _Champion_,
and she'll then, they hope, become an easy prey," said the lieutenant to
Owen. "They may be mistaken. Captain Olding is not the man to strike
while he has a stick standing."

Some time more passed by. The French gunnery may not have been very
good. Still the _Champion_ sailed on, not a mast nor a spar knocked
away, though her canvas was riddled with shot. Should she be disabled,
it was pretty evident that several of the merchantmen must be captured,
and that the _Ouzel Galley_, crippled as she was, would be among the
number. The proceedings of the _Champion_ and the enemy were therefore
watched with intense anxiety.

"There goes her main-topmast," cried Owen, almost with a groan.

"I ought to be on board," said Lieutenant Foley. "I must ask for one of
your boats, Captain Massey."

"You should be welcome, but not one of them can swim, nor could I spare
you any of my hands; so I am afraid, sir, you must be content to remain
on board the _Ouzel Galley_," answered Owen. "Your presence could not
change the fate of the day, and you would be made a prisoner by the
French, instead of having a chance of escaping."

The fire of the enemy now became hotter than ever, when Gerald, who had
gone aloft, shouted, "Two ships in sight to the northward!"

"What are they like?" asked Owen.

"One looks to me as if one were under jury-masts; the other's all
ataunto," answered Gerald.

"I trust so," ejaculated Owen; "if so, they must be the _Thisbe_ and
_Druid_."

Lieutenant Foley immediately joined the midshipman at the mast-head,
carrying his s