ied out. "If
she's English, she'll soon make the Frenchmen put about."

Jack was right as to a boat coming from the ship, but the Frenchmen
still pulled on. Perhaps they did not see the boat, or if they did,
thought that she also was French.

Again and again the pursuers fired, the bullets now falling close to the
raft.

"A miss is as good as a mile," cried Bill, rowing on.

But the French boat was evidently getting terribly near.

If any tolerable marksman were on board, he could easily pick off the
two occupants of the raft. They knew that well enough, but they kept to
their resolution of pulling on till the last.

They were encouraged, too, by seeing the boat from the stranger making
towards them. Presently three or four bullets together flew close to
their ears, and fell into the water ahead.

"Pull on! pull on!" cried Bill; "the fellows fired to vent their spite.
They are going to give up the chase."

He looked round as he spoke, and, sure enough, the stern of the boat was
seen.

The Frenchmen were rowing back to the shore.

The boat of the stranger, instead of steering, as she had been, towards
the raft, was now seen directing her course after the French boat, the
crew of which were evidently straining every nerve to escape.

"Hurrah!" cried Jack, standing up and waving his cap, "that's an English
frigate."

"No doubt about it," exclaimed Bill; "I can see her ensign blowing out;"
and he could scarcely refrain from throwing up his cap, but remembered
that it might chance to fall overboard if he did.

Directly afterwards a gun was heard, fired by the frigate.

It was a signal to recall the boat.

She would have had a long pull before she could over take the Frenchmen.

The signal was not to be disobeyed, and she was seen to pull round and
steer for the raft.

The boys eagerly watched her approach.

She was soon up to them.

"Hallo, my lads! where do you come from?" asked the officer, who was
standing up in the stern-sheets.

"We are running away from the Frenchmen, sir," answered Bill.

"A curious craft you have chosen for the purpose," observed the officer.

"It was the best we could get, sir," said Bill. "We twice have managed
to make our escape, and the first time were caught and carried back."

"Well, we'll hear all about it by-and-by. Come, jump on board. I
should like to tow your raft to the frigate, but we must not delay for
that purpose," exclaimed the officer.

Jack and