ffered and accepted by Isabel. Mr
Ferguson, with the two other sisters, brought up the rear. The ladies
had to pass the quarter-deck, and when they saw the preparations, the
guns cast loose, the shot lying on the deck, and all the various
apparatus for destruction, their fears increased. When they had been
conducted to their place of safety, Newton was about to return on deck,
when he was seized by Miss Charlotte and Laura Revel, who entreated him
not to leave them.

"Do stay with us, Mr Forster; pray don't go," cried they both.

"I must indeed, ladies; you are perfectly safe here."

"For God's sake, don't you go away, Mr Forster!" cried Laura, falling
on her knees. "I shall die of fright.--You shan't go!" screamed Laura,
as the two sisters clung on to the skirts of his jacket, and effectually
prevented his escape, unless, like the patriarch, he had left his
garment behind.

Newton cast an appealing glance at Isabel, who immediately
interfered,--"Charlotte, for shame! you are preventing Mr Forster from
going to his duty. My dear Laura, do not be so foolish; Mr Forster can
be of no service to us: but he will be on deck. Let go, Laura."

Newton was released. "I am much obliged to you, Miss Isabel," said
Newton, with his foot on the ladder; "but I have no time now to express
my thanks--not to be on deck--"

"I know it, Mr Forster: go up, I beseech you, do not wait a moment;"
and Newton sprung up the ladder; but not before he had exchanged with
Isabel a glance, which, had he been deficient in courage, would have
nerved him for the approaching combat. We must leave the ladies with
Mr Ferguson (who had no pleasant office), while we follow Newton on
deck. The stranger had borne down with studding-sails, until within
three miles of the India-men, when she rounded to. She then kept away a
little, to close nearer, evidently examining the force opposed to her.
The Indiamen had formed the line of battle in close order, the private
signal between English men-of-war and East India ships flying at their
mast-heads.

"Extremely strange, that she does not answer the private signal," said
the colonel to the second-mate.

"Not at all, if she don't know how."

"You are convinced, then, that she is a French frigate?"

"No, not positive; but I'll bet you ten to one she is:--bet off, if
either of us are killed, of course!"

"Thanky; I never bet," answered the colonel, turning away.

"What do you think of her, Mr Mathe