heting along the surface. The next instant they saw a brilliant
flash, heard a roar as of thunder; and as a dense cloud of smoke arose
there was a great gap in the deck on the starboard side close to the
cabin-hatch, and the boys grasped the fact instantly that the lugger's
little powder magazine had been blown up, while, as they stared aghast
at the mischief, and the men making for the boats, the mizen-mast with
its heavy sail slowly dropped over the side and lay upon the water, with
the effect that it acted like a rudder, and drew the unfortunate vessel
round, head to wind.

The disorder among the crew only lasted a few minutes; their discipline
was to the front again, Jacques giving his orders and the men obeying
promptly.

"She is not going down, my lads," he cried; "ze fire all come upvard.
You need not take to ze boats, for ze cutter vould follow and take you.
Zere: ze game is up. Ve could fight, but vat good? You see _La
Belle-Marie_ can do no more. Vat you say? Shall ve fight?"

"If you like, skipper," said the mate quietly; "but if we do the cutter
will only stand off a bit and sink us. We couldn't get away."

"_Non_" said Jacques: "luck is against us zis time. I sank you, my
brave lads, and I like you too vell to go lose your life for nossing.
Ve must strike."

The men gave him a faint cheer, and crowded round to hold out their
hands.

"But we will fight if you like, skipper," cried one who made himself
spokesman.

"I know, my lad," said Jacques. "Good boys all. Ve nevaire had a
coward on board ze _Belle-Marie_."

Meanwhile the cutter was coming up fast, and a few minutes after two
boats boarded them full of sailors and marines, when the first thing
done was to send a boat-load of prisoners, which included the captain,
Vince and Mike, on board the cutter.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

WHAT THE BOYS THOUGHT.

As the boat glided alongside, the master's mate in command ordered the
prisoners to go up; but Vince was already half-way over the side,
followed by Mike, the lieutenant in command ordering them sternly
forward.

"Quick, Mr Johnson!" he cried to the mate, "then back for the rest as
smartly as you can. Tell Mr Hudson to make any leakage sound.
Carpenter, there: go back with this boat."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"There's no fear of her sinking, sir," said Vince.

"What? How dare--!"

"It's all right, sir," cried Vince. "I know. We were prisoners on
board the smuggler."

"You were w