"Perhaps he intends to turn him into a midshipman," suggested Jack.

"Into a midshipman! a London street boy, who scarcely knows who his
father was," ejaculated Tom. "I should think he would have made me one
before him."

"The first lieutenant doesn't care a rap what he or his father was. He
remembers only the way Bill saved the ship from being taken by the
American skipper, and he seemed highly pleased at our having escaped
from France. I tell you I shouldn't be at all surprised if Bill is
placed on the quarter-deck," said Jack.

Tom gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. The conversation had a good
effect, as far as he was concerned, as it made him forget the fears he
had entertained about his personal safety.

In the meantime Bill remained on deck watching what was going forward.
He heard Captain Martin tell the first lieutenant that he intended to
engage the enemy to leeward, in order to prevent her escape; but as the
_Thisbe_ approached the French ship, the latter, suspecting his
intention, so as to frustrate it, wore round on the starboard tack.

After much skilful seamanship on both sides, Captain Martin, finding
that he could not succeed, ranged up to windward of the enemy within
pistol shot, both ships being on the larboard tack, two or three points
off the wind.

They now simultaneously opened their broadsides, the shot of the
_Thisbe_ telling with considerable effect, while not a few of those of
the enemy came on board in return, cutting up her rigging, and laying
low three or four of her men.

The French ship now passed under the stern of the _Thisbe_, firing her
larboard broadside with great precision. A second time she attempted to
repeat the manoeuvre, but the crew of the _Thisbe_, having quickly rove
new braces, her sails were thrown aback, and gathering sternway, her
starboard quarter took the larboard bow of the French frigate.

The French on this made several attempts to board, but the marines, who
were drawn up on deck, opened so warm a fire that they were driven back
with considerable loss.

The _Thisbe_ had now her enemy fast to her quarter. In order to keep
her there, Captain Martin and some of his crew endeavoured to lash her
bowsprit to his mizenmast; while others were engaged in bringing a gun
to bear, out of a port which the carpenters quickly cut through the
stern windows and quarter gallery.

While they were thus engaged, the enemy kept up a hot fire on them,
several men being k