lf
he ordered his clerk to make out your appointment as a midshipman and
signed it, though he could scarcely hold a pen. You'll come in for your
share of prize-money as such, and be placed on the quarter-deck; so I'll
congratulate you, my lad. There, now you'll do; but I must get you sent
on board again, you're not fit for work here."

Ralph very unwillingly obeyed the order he received to return to the
_Falcon_. When he had reached her he would not even then go below; but
though he was unable to handle a rope, having reported himself to Mr
Handsel, he received directions to superintend a party of men in
refitting the rigging. There was work indeed for every one; for though
the _Falcon_ had suffered less than her antagonist, her masts and spars,
wounded in various places, required to be fished and the standing
rigging to be spliced, to enable her to make sail and go in chase of the
two other ships just before captured by the _Concorde_. Happily it fell
perfectly calm; and thus, while the prizes could not escape, time was
obtained for repairing damages. There was not a moment to be lost, for
every one knew that should a breeze spring up before the rigging had
been set to rights, the tottering masts would to a certainty go over the
side.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Daylight found the _Falcon's_ crew still hard at work, the prisoners on
board the _Concorde_ being assisted by the English seamen taken out of
the two merchant vessels. The latter were South Sea whalers, furnished,
as was not unusual in those days, with letters of marque, and returning
home from round Cape Horn with full cargoes and a considerable amount of
booty. They lay, their sails all set, about two miles off, waiting for
a breeze to make their escape. Their masters, who had been found as
prisoners on board the _Concorde_, were eager to attempt their recovery,
and offered to man the _Falcons_ boats with their crews, and to lead an
expedition against them. Mr Handsel, however, at first considered that
it would be extremely hazardous, and he could not spare the necessary
number of men for the enterprise. So busy were all hands that no
inquiries had been made about the killed and wounded. Few perhaps even
thought of their shipmates writhing in agony below. The voices of
several officers wont to be heard were silent, and not a few of their
messmates were missed from among them. At length there was a rumour
that their brave captain was even worse hurt