Tom and Archie were quickly on their legs, but
before they could do as Dick told them and run for their lives, they
were surrounded by a party of helmeted Russians.

Dick, however, laid about him so lustily with his cutlass, that had the
midshipmen been willing to leave him, they, at all events, might have
made their escape. They were endeavouring to draw their swords, when
the Russians, throwing themselves on them from behind, seized their
arms; and Dick received a wound from a bayonet in his sword-arm which
made him, very much against his will, drop his weapon. In an instant,
more Russians coming on, they were completely overpowered and dragged
away; not, however, till Dick, in a stentorian voice, had let Billy
Blueblazes know what had happened, and directed him to pull back to the
ship with the news.

Billy had caught sight of the party in the distance just as the enemy
rushed out on them, and had seen Dick turn back to help Tom and Archie.
Had he not been ordered to remain in the boat, he would have landed, and
tried to assist them. Fortunately, perhaps, he did not make the
attempt, as his men could not have fired at the Russians for fear of
hitting their friends, and he and his party would, in all probability,
have been captured, with the loss of their boat. As soon as he heard
Dick's voice, he shoved off and pulled away for the ship, in the hopes
of getting assistance.

Jack, however, saw that it would be useless to send a party on shore, as
the Russians would to a certainty carry off their prisoners to a
distance. As Billy stated that he saw a large number of men, the fresh
party might very likely be overwhelmed. Jack naturally felt very much
grieved at the loss of the midshipmen and gunner, although they were not
likely to be otherwise than kindly treated; still the war might last for
some time, and they would lose the advantage of the experience they were
gaining--while he could ill afford to dispense with Needham's services,
or lose Tim Nolan, a good seaman on whom he could always depend.

"The midshipmen are pretty sure to fall on their feet wherever they are
carried," observed Mr Mildmay, "so we need not, I hope, be over-anxious
about them."

Next morning, Jack sent a flag of truce on shore to inquire what had
become of his captured officers and man, and to offer to send them any
necessaries they might require. Before the boat returned, another
steamer hove in sight, which proved to be the _Giao