A marine was on the point of
running his bayonet into the breast of Lord Reginald, when the captain
cut down the man. In vain the Frenchmen attempted to resist. Foot by
foot they were driven back, until the cry rose from an officer on the
quarter-deck of "We surrender." At the same time he lifted a lantern
above his head, as a signal which all might understand.

"Lay down your arms, then!" cried Captain Moubray, "and no more blows
shall be struck."

The boatswain, with Richard Hargrave and others, were still using their
cutlasses with deadly effect, the shouts and cries of the Frenchmen, as
they endeavoured to withstand them, preventing all other sounds from
being heard.

Before advancing towards the French commanding officer, to receive his
sword, Captain Moubray sent Lord Reginald and a party of men below to
stop the slaughter. He sprang down in time to see Dick Hargrave and two
other men engaged in a fierce combat with three Frenchmen, who, ignorant
of what had taken place above, were still holding out.

"You mutinous rascals!" exclaimed Lord Reginald to Dick and his
companions; "didn't you hear the captain's orders to desist from
fighting? The frigate has struck, and is our prize."

Then shouting to the Frenchmen in their own language, he told them what
had occurred, when immediately dropping the points of their weapons,
they sprang back, to be out of reach of the British seamen's cutlasses.

"I am not a mutinous rascal," exclaimed Dick, turning to Lord Reginald;
"I didn't know that the Frenchmen had given in."

"How dare you speak to me in that way?" exclaimed the young lord, even
at that moment not forgetting his enmity towards Dick. "Look out for
the consequences!"

He then shouted to Mr Bitts, and in another minute the fighting, which
had gone on for so many hours, altogether ceased. Both decks presented
a terrible spectacle. In all directions lay the bodies of dead and
dying men. Many had already passed away, others were writhing in agony,
while the surgeon's attendants, regardless of what was going on around,
were employed in carrying below those to whom assistance might be of
use. One lieutenant alone stood on the quarter-deck. Captain Moubray,
advancing among the bodies of his late foes, inquired for the French
captain. The lieutenant pointed to a form which lay near the wheel,
covered with a flag.

"The captain of the _Thesbe_--the ship I yield to you--lies there," he
answered, pres