t close
quarters."

"Then I suppose we shall have to run for it," said Voules; "there'll be
no honour or glory in fighting her."

"I shouldn't like to have to run from an enemy unless she was very much
larger than yonder craft appears to be," exclaimed Lord Reginald.

"As to that, my lord, we must do our best not to be taken, and shall
have to fight for it. We have hands enough to work our guns, but if she
runs us aboard, her numerous crew will tell fearfully in her favour."

"But you have a good many prisoners below; I suppose they could be
trusted to help us?" said Lord Reginald.

"I shouldn't like to put cutlasses into their hands; they might turn
against us," observed Voules.

"No fear of that," answered the lieutenant; "they are Englishmen, and if
they see an enemy will fight fast enough. I shall trust them, at all
events, and as soon as I can make out whether yonder lugger hails from
Jersey or not, I will have them on deck and arm them."

Dick, as he heard this, heartily hoped that the stranger might prove an
enemy. The rest of the prisoners, he judged, from the remarks they
made, were much of his way of thinking.

"The mounseers won't make any difference between us and the crew, if
we're taken," observed one of the men.

"Right there, mate; better have a jolly stand-up fight than be sitting
down here all day, doing nothing," remarked another.

The officers had gone aft, and Dick could not hear what was said. In a
short time, however, he knew that the cutter was moving by the rippling
against her side.

Presently she heeled over slightly, showing that the breeze was
freshening, and he heard the order to set the squaresail and
square-topsail. There was little doubt, then, that the commander was
following the advice given by Mr Voules, making the best of his way to
the westward. He would do that under ordinary circumstances. It was
still uncertain whether the lugger which had brought up the breeze was a
friend or an enemy.

He had heard the order to hoist the ensign, and some time afterwards a
voice called out, "That's a French craft, I'll take my davy, though we
can't see her colours."

Again some time elapsed, when a gun was heard, but the sound was so
faint that Dick thought the vessel which fired it must be at a great
distance. Presently Mr Mason came down into the hold.

"Lads," he said, looking round, "you are all Englishmen, though you are
pressed against your will to serve his Majes