expected
revenge, and he was abusing the English captain for having attempted to
oppose him. A man stood by, receiving the swords of the captain and
several other persons, who seemed to be gentlemen. Harry and David
observed one whose face had been turned away from them at first.

"Harry," exclaimed David, "I'm sure that's Captain Rymer. If Mary is on
board, how dreadful for her!"

"It's very like him," said Harry; "I'm afraid it must be him. But how
could he have come on board the ship? We shall soon know, at all
events--I will try and speak to him."

As may be supposed, even their dearest friends would not have known the
two lads in their tarry clothes, and their faces begrimed with powder.
As soon as the French captain and his followers went below to examine
the cargo of the ship, Harry and David stole up to the gentleman whom
they supposed to be Captain Rymer. He was indeed their friend.

"What, lads!" he exclaimed, looking at them, "are you really alive? I
am thankful to find you so, even in this plight."

Harry rapidly explained how they came to be on board the French vessel.

"And is Mary with you?" asked Harry, eagerly.

"Yes, and there are several other ladies in the cabin below. They have
shut themselves in, and I trust will receive no annoyance from the
Frenchmen."

"I don't think we should be seen talking with you," said Harry, "because
we may hope to be of some assistance, although we don't see clearly how
that is to be just yet."

The Frenchmen seemed highly elated at finding they had captured an
unusually rich prize, and were in a very good humour, in spite of the
loss of a few of their number. The dead were soon thrown overboard, and
the wounded placed in the doctor's hands out of sight, the decks washed
down, and most of the traces of the combat done away with. A picked
crew of the Frenchmen was sent on board the English merchantman, which
it seemed the intention of the captain to carry into the nearest port in
the West Indies belonging to France. Harry and David could not bear the
thoughts of being separated from Captain Rymer, and resolved to stow
themselves away on board the English vessel, hoping they might not be
missed. Among the prize crew were, to their great satisfaction, their
good-natured friends Jacques Rossillion and Pierre Lamont. The first
lieutenant came to take the command. The Frenchmen more than doubled
the remainder of the English crew, who, however, were exp