ith a British privateer or cruiser she would of course
fall an easy prey.

No sooner was the bark on her way than the privateersmen set to work
to lift out their injured mainmast, and to replace it with that they
had brought on board from the bark. When daylight broke anxious
glances were cast round the horizon; but although a few distant sails
were seen, none of these were following a course that would bring them
near the brig, and the latter without sail and with her foremast alone
standing would not be likely to be noticed. Ralph could not help
admiring the energy with which the crew worked. Ordinarily they were
by no means a smart crew, and did their work in a slow and slovenly
manner; but each man now felt the importance of getting everything
into order before an enemy appeared, and so well did they work that by
midday the new mast was in its place, and before sunset the topmast
with all its yards and gear was up and the sails ready for hoisting.

Ralph had been in a state of anxiety in the early part of the night
lest he should be sent on board the bark and carried as a prisoner to
France. But no one seemed to give a thought to him, and it was not
until far on in the morning that the captain happened to notice him
hard at work with the rest.

"Ah, are you there?" he said. "If I had thought of it I should have
sent you into Best in the bark."

Ralph did not understand the words but he guessed at the meaning, and
said, smiling, "I am quite content to remain where I am."

"Tell him, Jacques Clery, that I have noticed that he works willingly,
and as long as he behaves well he shall have the same treatment as if
he belonged really to the crew; but warn him that if he is caught at
any time making a signal, or doing anything to warn a vessel we may be
approaching, his brains will be blown out at once."

Jacques translated the warning.

"That's all right," Ralph said. "Of course I should expect nothing
else."

As soon as the repairs were completed the sails were hoisted and the
brig proceeded on her way. In the days that followed it seemed to
Ralph that the tactics of the privateer had changed, and that there
was no longer any idea of making prizes. A sharp lookout was indeed
kept for any English cruisers, but no attention was paid to any sail
in the distance as soon as it was determined that these were not ships
of war. Four days later, instead of there being as before five or six
sail in sight at one point or