e
service to rise in the profession he had chosen. He certainly had a
longing at times to go home and see those he loved so dearly. Often a
vision of Alethea rose up before him, but still not without some doubts
as to the position he held with her.

It would be impossible to describe all the exploits performed by Captain
Jumper and his brave crew during the time the "Weymouth" was in
commission. Few ships remained a shorter time in harbour than she did,
and the crew might with a show of reason have complained of the hard
work they had to go through. They were, however, well satisfied with
the amount of prize-money which fell to their lot. Jack, in his new
position, got a good share of it, and found himself better supplied with
cash than he had ever before been in his life.

Some time passed away, when one day the "Weymouth" was standing towards
the French coast in the direction the wind blew to Saint Martin's, the
scene of some of her former exploits, when two vessels were seen to
leeward. From the cut of their sails and general appearance they were
known to be French.

Every stratagem is considered lawful in warfare. Captain Jumper
therefore hoisted the French ensign, and as he was running down before
the wind, the cut of his own sails could not so clearly be discerned, by
which the character of the "Weymouth" would have been discovered. The
two vessels for some time made no attempt to escape, believing probably
that the stranger in sight was really French, and wishing for some
reason or other to speak her. By yawing occasionally--that is moving
the ship's head from one side to the other--the French ensign was
visible to the two vessels to leeward. Thus the "Weymouth" was able to
get within gunshot of them before her character was discovered. Quickly
bracing up her yards, she poured a broadside into her two opponents,
which were close together. They were found to be two large galleys,
which carried some twenty guns on the upper-deck, and several on the
quarter-deck, while between-decks were small ports, out of which their
oars projected. They now began to work their oars, in the hopes of
placing themselves on the quarters of the "Weymouth," but before one of
them could do so, so tremendous a fire was poured into her that she was
rendered unmanageable, many of the unhappy galley-slaves having
apparently been killed, and her rudder shot away. The other galley
attempted to make her escape, but the "Weymou