r Carnegan; "while
benefiting ourselves and lining our own pockets, we are serving the
country. We capture our foes in fair and open fight, while we run the
risk of being taken ourselves. However, to prove to you that I don't
despise the merchant service, as you appear to be rather short-handed, I
shall be happy to do duty on board as one of your mates, if you will
trust me. I don't ask for wages, but it will be a satisfaction to me to
feel that I am working my passage home."

"I don't doubt your knowledge of seamanship and navigation, and gladly
accept your offer," answered the captain.

Mr Carnegan was accordingly duly installed in the office of second mate
of the _Ouzel Galley_.

CHAPTER TWO.

FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE STRANGER--MR. CARNEGAN SHOWS HIS
ADMIRATION OF NORAH--APPROACHING IRELAND--A CONFESSION--A SAIL IN
SIGHT--CHASED--THE ENEMY GAINS ON THE OUZEL GALLEY--NORAH AND GERALD
SENT INTO THE HOLD--THE FIGHT BEGINS--THE OUZEL GALLEY HOLDS OUT
BRAVELY, BUT IS RAPIDLY OVERTAKEN--BOTH MATES WOUNDED--THE FRENCHMEN
BOARD THE OUZEL GALLEY--GERALD DEFENDS NORAH--THE FRENCH CAPTAIN'S
COURTESY--THE OUZEL GALLEY IN THE HANDS OF THE FRENCHMEN--THE COQUILLE
GOES OFF IN CHASE--A SLEEP-LOVING LIEUTENANT--AN IDEA OCCURS TO GERALD.

The wind continued fair and the weather fine, and the _Ouzel Galley_
made good progress on her voyage. Norah was not free from anxiety with
regard to her father, who had sufficiently recovered his strength to
come on deck and carry on duty, but she longed to get him safe on shore,
where alone she believed he would be restored to his usual health. The
new mate showed himself to be a good seaman, and was evidently
accustomed to command, as far as the captain could judge by the way in
which he trimmed sails and issued his orders to the crew. They obeyed
him as seamen always do an officer whom they look upon as a good
sailor--not that they were particularly disposed to like him, for he
never spoke to any of them except to tell them what to do, and his tone
was always that of a person who intended to have his orders carried out.
Had he come on board in the ordinary way, they would have taken this as
a matter of course; but Pompey had expressed his opinion that there was
some mystery about him--he might be a true man, but it was possible that
he might be of the character of the well-known Flying Dutchman, and had
appeared only for the sake of betraying them. The rest of the crew were