how did the _Wolf_ and her prize manage to escape from the enemy?"
asked Lady Julia. "Pray go on and tell us, Mr Voules."

"For some time I must own that we fully expected to be captured, for
wounded as our masts and spars were, we could not venture to make more
sail; indeed, it is a wonder those of the prize which remained standing
did not fall over the side. Fortunately, we had a good start, and the
wind being light, the French ships did not gain on us as fast as they
would otherwise have done. To our infinite satisfaction, just about
noon, we saw them haul their wind, having been probably recalled by
their admiral, who thought it possible that they might run into the jaws
of an English squadron, which he must have known was cruising in the
neighbourhood. We had still no small anxiety about our prisoners, and,
I believe, it was not a little owing to the vigilance of Lord Reginald
that they were prevented from rising. His perfect knowledge of French,
for which he tells me he is indebted to his sisters, enabled him to
speak to the men, warning them of the danger they would run should they
make the attempt, and in a short time he brought them into good humour,
notwithstanding which, as before, a strict watch was kept on their
movements. Having stood well to the westward, we got a fair breeze,
which carried us up Channel and safe inside the Isle of Wight, where I
hope the prize is by this time, for she was close in with the Needles,
and was only prevented following us for want of wind and the ebb still
making out against her. It would be a serious matter if she were to run
on shore during the night, or be retaken by a French cruiser."

"No chance of that," observed Reginald. "No French cruiser would ever
venture so close in with our shore, and within two or three hours at
most the prize would be able to follow the frigate."

"I must get you, Mr Voules, to repeat the account you have given of the
action for my benefit, as Reginald is wonderfully reticent on the
subject," said the marquis.

"I shall have great pleasure, my lord," answered Voules, bowing.

"In the mean time, do me the honour of taking wine, and we will
afterwards drink a bumper round to the future success of the _Wolf_,"
said the marquis.

"The very toast I was going to propose," said an old general, who had
long since been placed on the shelf. "Though my fighting days are over,
an account such as we have just heard warms up my stagnant blood,