dle; and Bob, a one-legged negro, who performed
the double duty of cook's second mate and musician-general of the ship,
was never tired of playing as long as he could get any one to dance.
The style of performance of the two nationalities was very different,
but both received their share of applause from one another. The
Frenchmen leapt into the air, whirled, bounded and skipped, while the
British tars did the double-shuffle and performed the various evolutions
of the hornpipe, to the admiration of their Gallic rivals.

By the time they had reached Plymouth they had won each other's hearts,
and hands were wrung, and many of the Frenchmen burst into tears as they
took their leave of their gallant entertainers, all protesting that they
should always remember their kindness, and expressing the hope that they
should never meet again except as friends.

Sad it is that men, who would be ever ready to live on friendly terms
and advance their mutual interests, should, by the ambition and lust of
power of a few, be compelled to slaughter and injure each other, as has
unhappily been the case for so many centuries throughout the whole
civilised portion of the world.

As soon as the anchor was dropped, Rayner asked for leave to go on shore
with Captain Turgot, to visit Mrs Crofton, and learn how Pierre was
getting on.

"You may go, but you must return on board at night, as there is plenty
of work to be done," answered the first lieutenant.

"Thank you, sir," said Rayner; and he hurried below to tell Captain
Turgot to get ready.

They shoved off by the first boat going on shore. They walked on
quickly through the streets of Plymouth, Rayner anticipating the
pleasure of seeing Mrs Crofton and Mary, and of witnessing the meeting
between the honest Frenchman and his son.

"I hope that we shall find Pierre recovered; but the doctor said his
wound would take long to heal, and you must not be surprised if he is
still unable to move," he said to Captain Turgot. "Our friends will
take very good care of him, and perhaps you would like to remain behind
until he is well."

"I would wish to be with him, but I am anxious to relieve the anxiety of
Madame Turgot and Jeannette, who, if they do not see me, will suppose
that I am lost," answered the Captain. "I shall grieve to leave my boy
behind, but I know that he will be well cared for, and I cannot tell
you, my young friend, how grateful I am. Little did I think, when I
picked you