icer, capable of taking charge of a
watch, so that he had but very little time to bestow on the young lady
those attentions which, under other circumstances, he might have been
inclined to pay. She too was fully engaged in attending on Owen and in
visiting with her father the wounded and sick men.

The night passed off quietly, and the whole of the first day was spent
by all hands in setting up the topmast. It was not till supper-time
that the lieutenant entered the cabin, and, throwing himself on a chair,
expressed his satisfaction that the task was at length accomplished.
"And your men, captain, deserve credit for the way they have worked," he
observed; "they could not have done so more willingly had they been
performing the task for their own advantage. For my part, I am pretty
well worn out--you may be sure that I shall sleep soundly during my
watch below."

"Do you generally sleep soundly, Lieutenant Vinoy?" asked Gerald.

"Yes, I am celebrated for it," answered the lieutenant, laughing; "it
takes a good deal to awake me when once my eyes are closed. I am never
idle, you see; I work hard and sleep hard--that is as it should be."

Gerald recollected the lieutenant's remark, and a thought at that moment
came into his head which he kept there, turning it and round and over
and over till he carried it into execution.

CHAPTER THREE.

A HEAVY GALE AHEAD--THE WIND BECOMES FAIR--GERALD'S PLAN TO RECOVER THE
SHIP--CARRIES IT OUT--NORAH'S RESOLUTION--THE LIEUTENANT CAUGHT
NAPPING--THE FRENCHMEN'S WEAPONS SECURED--BUSSON AND THE FRENCH CREW
OVERPOWERED--GERALD AND NORAH HOLD LIEUTENANT VINOY IN CHECK--THE OUZEL
GALLEY REGAINED--A COURSE STEERED FOR WATERFORD--PRECAUTIONS AGAINST
RECAPTURE--APPROACH THE LAND.

The _Ouzel Galley_ had run very nearly as far north as the latitude of
Ushant, though she was still some way to the westward. Her crew had got
on very well with their captors, who called them _bons garcons_, and
were perfectly willing to fraternise with them. No one coming on board
would have suspected their relative positions. The lieutenant made
himself at home in the cabin; he was polite and courteous to Norah and
Captain Tracy, and in no way presumed on being, as he was, the real
commander of the ship. Gerald, however, did not seem inclined to
associate with him, and seldom came into the cabin when he was there.
Gerald, indeed, spent most of his time in assisting Norah to attend on
Owen, by whose