ed the pain of seeing it inflicted.

The frigate had been surveyed, but what opinion had been formed about
her was not known for some time. At length the captain, who had gone on
shore, returned, and, mustering the ship's company, informed them that,
according to the surveyor's report, it would take some months to put her
in thorough repair, and that in the meantime he had been appointed to
the command of the store-ship _Bombay Castle_, of sixty-four guns, bound
for the Mediterranean, and he should take his officers and crew with
him. "We all of us might wish for more active service, my lads, but we
shall not be long absent, and I hope by the time we come back that we
shall find our tight little frigate as ready for any duty she may be
sent on, as you all, I am sure, will be."

A cheer was the reply to this address, and the next day the officers and
crew of the _Thisbe_ went on board their new ship. They had, however,
first to get her ready for sea, and then to receive the stores on board,
by which time several of the wounded men, including Jack Peek, had
sufficiently recovered to join her.

The _Bombay Castle_ was rolling her away across the Bay of Biscay with a
northerly breeze. She was a very different craft from the _Thisbe_, and
though more than twice her size, not nearly so comfortable. Captain
Martin had received orders to avoid an engagement, except attacked, and
then to do his best to escape, as the stores she carried were of great
value, and were much required by the fleet. Though several sail were
sighted supposed to be an enemy's squadron, she managed to escape from
them, and arrived safe at Gibraltar. Here she was joined by the _Ione_
frigate, and the two ships sailed together, expecting to fall in with
the fleet off Toulon.

The two ships lay almost becalmed in the Gulf of Lyons. Several
officers of the _Ione_, which was only a short distance off, had come on
board, when Captain Martin advised them, somewhat to their surprise, to
get back to the frigate.

"I don't quite like the look of the weather," he remarked. "I've seen
the masts of a ship whipped out of her, when not five minutes before
there was no more wind than we have at present."

The frigate's boat left the side and was seen pulling rapidly towards
her. Suddenly the cry was heard, "All hands on deck to save ship!"

Those who were below, springing up, found the ship heeling over till her
yard-arms almost touched the foaming water