ced knot, and to
Rodd's confusion a pair of thin arms were flung about his neck and he
was held tightly to the young stranger's breast.

"Oh, _mon ami_! _mon ami_! My dear friend!" he cried. "Do we meet once
more like this? _Mon pere, c'est le jeune Anglais qui nous a sauves
dans cet affreux temps_."

"Moray!" cried the officer, looking stunned. "Is this true?"

"True? Oh yes! Oh yes!" cried the lad, speaking now in English. "You,
young angler, fisherman, this is my dear father."

To Rodd's false shame and confusion, he had to submit to another
embrace, for before he could realise what was about to happen the
officer had followed his son's example and not only embraced him, but
kissed him on both cheeks.

"Well, this is a queer set out," said Uncle Paul. "Then you are the two
fellows who broke into my bedroom and helped yourselves to my purse?"

"Ha, ha! Yes, my friend," cried the officer, laughing; "but you and
your brave son will forgive. We were poor exiles and prisoners fighting
for our liberty, and you will let us make amends."

"Oh, well, you did," said Uncle Paul bluffly; "but that is no excuse for
turning pirates and trying to rob me of my ship at the point of the
sword."

"No, no," cried the officer hastily, "but you are a brave Englishman,
and you and your son--"

"No, sir, my nephew."

"--will forgive. One moment; let me think!" cried the officer, as he
dragged his hand from out of his sword-knot and thrust the blade into
its sheath. "Yes, yes, let me think. I have it, Morny," and turning to
his followers he uttered a short sharp command which resulted in his men
swinging themselves over the side and entering the two boats in which
they had effected the surprise of the schooner.

At their first movement in retreat the skipper's crew burst into a loud
jeering laugh, and made as if to rush forward; but at a word from
Captain Chubb they were silenced and held back.

"I thank you, sir," said the French officer, raising his hat to the
skipper. "It was well done. Now let me speak; let me explain," and he
looked from Rodd to his uncle and back, and then gave a glance at the
skipper, while the two lads stood hand in hand.

"It was like this," he said; "you saw us at Havre that stormy day, and
of course my brig nearly crushed into your vessel. Then we lay at
anchor close together till that order came down from a vile insensate
Government to seize upon my vessel and my crew. It was the