dy to fight to the last to
preserve the _Ouzel Galley_ from capture and to escape a French prison.

"Then we'll make a running fight of it, my lads," he said. "The enemy
has probably much heavier metal and many more men than we have, but our
two guns will be of as much service as her twenty if we can keep her as
she now is, right astern--and that's what I intend to do."

The second mate had narrowly scanned the French ship. "I can tell you
what, Captain Tracy," he said at length, "you haven't a chance of
escaping from her. I know her and her commander well, and not a better
or more determined seaman ever walked the deck of a ship. I have reason
to be grateful to you for the way I have been treated on board this
vessel, and to your first mate for saving my life; and for your own sake
I would advise you to haul down your flag at once and surrender--you
will probably be far better treated than if you lead the Frenchman a
long chase and are taken at last."

"I am obliged to you for your good intentions in giving the advice you
do," said Captain Tracy, "but my principle is to hold out till the last
hope of success has gone--and we haven't quite arrived at that point
yet. If you don't wish to fight you can go below."

"You mistake me," answered the second mate, in a somewhat angry tone,
and he walked away. The next instant a puff of smoke was seen to issue
from the bows of the French ship, and a shot came flying across the
water; but it fell short of the _Ouzel Galley_.

"Stand by to fire our stern-chasers, Mr Massey," sang out the captain,
"but we'll let the enemy find out the range before we throw a shot
away."

The captain did not fail to keep his eye on the canvas, to be ready to
alter his course should there be the slightest shift of wind. The
second mate continued walking the deck in sullen silence, determined
apparently to take no further part in defence of the ship. Owen stood
ready, match in hand, to fire the stern-chasers. In the course of a few
minutes the Frenchman fired another shot; it went ricocheting over the
water, and passed the quarter of the _Ouzel Galley_.

"Our guns will carry as far as the Frenchman's," exclaimed the captain.
"Now see what you can do, Owen."

The first mate, looking along his gun, fired; the shot struck the enemy.
The crew of the _Ouzel Galley_ watched eagerly for the effect of the
shot. It went through the Frenchman's fore-topsail. A loud cheer
showed their satisfac