eir
distance every second; their bows diverging from each other at almost a
right angle.

The Frenchmen, on boarding the _Aurora_, divided into two parties, one
of which rushed forward to secure the crew, while the other made a
similar rush aft, for the purpose of overpowering the officers and
helmsman. In their astonishment and perplexity at finding the decks
deserted, they paused for a moment irresolutely, then hurriedly searched
the cabin and forecastle, only to find that the ship was utterly
deserted. Then, for the first time, a glimmering of the truth presented
itself to the mind of the French leader, and his suspicions were
instantly confirmed; for Captain Leicester, having at that moment
rallied his crew, led them forward, and, finding that, as he had
expected, the Frenchmen had boarded the _Aurora_ with all their
available strength, leaving only some five-and-twenty men on board the
brig to handle her, he, after a short, sharp tussle, drove these men
below and secured complete possession of the brig.

The party on board the _Aurora_ distinctly heard the sounds of the
conflict, and waited in breathless expectancy for its termination. They
had not long to wait; in little over a couple of minutes Captain
Leicester's voice was heard giving the order to shift the helm--the brig
having in the meantime gone round until she was head to wind with her
canvas flat aback--and to trim over the head-sheets. Then a chorus of
curses, both loud and deep, from the deck of the _Aurora_, proclaimed
the chagrin of the Frenchmen on board her at the--to them--extraordinary
and unforeseen result of the adventure.

But their captain was a man of indomitable pluck, energy, and readiness
of resource, and by no means given to a tame and immediate acceptance of
defeat. He realised the situation in a moment, and, determining to make
the best of a bad bargain, promptly ordered sail to be crowded upon the
_Aurora_, in the hope of effecting his escape. The night being dark,
however, and his men new to the ship, the work went on but slowly; and
by the time that the topgallantsails were sheeted home, his own brig was
once more alongside, with two red lights hoisted to her gaff-end (the
alarm-signal), her ports open, guns run out, and the men standing by
them ready to open fire.

As she drew up abreast the _Aurora_, George hailed--

"Barque ahoy! Let fly your sheets and halliards at once, and surrender,
or I will fire into you!"

"A