get a good offing from the coast before daylight. Mr Saltwell remained
in command of the prize with the crew which had so gallantly won her.
The wounded Frenchmen were also allowed to continue on board under
charge of their surgeon, with an English assistant-surgeon to help him,
for there were upwards of forty poor fellows who required his care.

Bill was glad to find that he had not to go back to his own ship, as he
wanted to look after Pierre, and as soon as his duty would allow him he
went below to learn how his young French friend was getting on. When he
asked for the man whom he had brought down, the doctor pointed to one of
the officer's cabins in the gun-room, observing, "He is somewhat badly
hurt, but there are others still more cruelly knocked about who require
my care, and I have not been able to attend to him for some time."

Bill hurried into the cabin. A faint voice replied to him.

"_Merci, merci_! It is very kind of you to come and see me, but I fear
that I shall not get over it," said Pierre. "Is there no chance of our
returning to France? I should like to die under my father's roof, and
see my mother and Jeannette once more."

"There's no chance of your getting back for the present, but I hope you
will see your mother and sister notwithstanding," answered Bill. "We
are running across the Channel, and shall be in an English port in a day
or two, when you will be landed, and I will ask the captain to let me
take care of you. I should like to prove how grateful I am for all your
kindness to me and Jack Peek, and I will tell Mr Saltwell, the
lieutenant who commands this ship, how you and your family treated me.
But I don't think you ought to talk; I came to see if I could do
anything for you."

"My lips are parched; I am very thirsty; I should like something to
drink," answered Pierre.

"I will see what I can find," said Bill; and making his way to the
steward's pantry outside the captain's cabin, he hunted about until he
discovered some lemons. He quickly squeezed out the juice of a couple
of them, and mixing it with water, brought the beverage to Pierre, who
drank it eagerly. It much revived him.

"I was very unfortunate to be on board the _Atlante_ when you captured
her, for I had no wish to fight the English," said Pierre. "Only ten
days ago I was persuaded to come on board to see a friend, and the crew
would not let me return on shore. However, I was determined to make the
best of