a God-fearing nation, she must obey His commands."

Burdale put out his hand. Jack pressed it, and promised him again that
he would not forget his wishes. Before another sun shone over the world
of waters, poor Ned's spirit had winged its flight away from his once
sturdy form; and before the ship entered Plymouth Sound, several others
who had been wounded in the action breathed their last.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION--JOHN DEANE IS PROMOTED--CAPTURE OF TWO GALLEYS.

It was no easy matter to find a place in which to write a letter on
board. Jack, however, got a board for a desk, and, sitting down near a
port on the deck, wrote to Ned Burdale's widow, according to the address
given him, telling her of her husband's death, and directing her how at
once to apply for her pension. He promised also to go and see her if he
could possibly manage the journey, and bring a few things which Ned had
left to her and her boy, begging her, if she ever moved away, to write
to him at Nottingham, that he might know how to find her.

So busily were all hands employed in refitting the ship, aided by extra
carpenters and riggers, that Jack was unable to obtain even an hour's
leave on shore. Immediately the ship was ready for sea, Blue Peter was
hoisted, the anchor was run up to the bows, and under all sail she stood
down the Sound.

Captain Jumper was worthy of his name. A more active officer was not to
be found; and he soon made himself as much feared by the French as were
Admiral Benbow, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Sir George Rooke, and Captain
Dilkes, who was soon to become an Admiral. Under such a commander John
Deane had many opportunities of distinguishing himself. A squadron, of
which the "Weymouth" formed a part, was sent in to attack the Island of
Rhe and Belleisle, accompanied by several bomb-vessels. Saint Martin's
was bombarded, and several small towns and villages were burned and
plundered. The loss the French suffered on this occasion induced them
to go to great expense in defending their coast, the cost to them being
far greater than was that to the English in attacking it. Jack
volunteered on all occasions of this sort, and on all cutting-out
expeditions, and had thus an opportunity of bringing himself before the
notice of his captain. As the "Weymouth" was standing off and on the
French coast, several vessels, supposed by their size to be privateers,
were seen at anchor within a small harbour