xhibiting in their
countenances the satisfaction they felt at the expectation of being soon
restored to liberty. They were, of course, narrowly watched, and well
knew that they would be pretty severely dealt with should they show any
signs of insubordination.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE "THISBE'S" NARROW ESCAPE--TOM HOPES TO BE MADE A MIDSHIPMAN.

Half an hour or more passed, when again the leading French frigate
fired, the shot falling close to the counter of the _Diana_, which by
this time, having got up a fresh maintopmast, was able to make more
sail.

Captain Martin now ordered Lieutenant Sterling to cast off the tow rope
and to stand on ahead of him, while, to allow the _Diana_ to do so, he
clewed up the _Thisbe's_ topsails.

"Make the best of your way to Plymouth," he shouted, as the _Diana_
passed the _Thisbe_; "we'll keep these two fellows in play, and shall, I
hope, be soon after you."

As soon as the prize had got some distance ahead, Captain Martin, who
had been watching the two frigates coming up on the starboard quarter,
ordered the _Thisbe's_ helm to be put to port; at the same moment, her
starboard broadside being fired, the shot raked the two Frenchmen fore
and aft. The helm was then immediately put over, and the frigate coming
up on the other tack, her larboard broadside was poured into her
antagonists. The shot told with considerable effect. The foretopmast
of the leading frigate was shot away, and the mizenmast of the one
following was seen to go by the board. This, however, did not much
alter their rate of sailing, as, the wind being aft, all the canvas they
required continued set. They also opened their fire, and their shot
came crashing on board the _Thisbe_, killing and wounding two or three
men, but not doing any material damage to her spars or rigging. She
having shortened sail, her antagonists were compelled to do the same;
and while they poured their broadsides into her, she returned them as
rapidly as the crew could run the guns in and out.

Captain Martin's great object was to keep them engaged, and, if
possible, to knock away their masts, so as to enable the _Diana_ to
escape, for although he might hope to get off himself, he could not
expect to capture either of the enemy's ships.

The _Thisbe_ had been several times hulled, and her sails were already
completely riddled, while many more of her crew had fallen.

"It is going hard with us, I fear," said Jack to Tom, who was s