Quick, aloft!"

True Blue required no second order, but, springing up the ratlines
before anybody could overtake him, he had reached the top, when, seizing
the halliards, down came gliding the flaunting tricolour, followed
quickly by the red cap of liberty, which, unscrewing, he threw among the
people on deck; and three hearty cheers from the British crew announced
that the well-fought battle was won.

The gallant French Captain opened his dim eyes at the sound, to see the
emblem for which he had striven trampled under foot. He had been
endeavouring, since he saw that all hope of escape was over, to tear to
pieces with his teeth and to swallow a paper which he had drawn from his
pocket. Suddenly, while thus engaged, he saw the red cap fall like a
flash of fire from aloft. His fingers released their hold of the paper,
and with a deep groan he expired.

Mr Brine stooped down by the side of his brave opponent. The paper he
had been endeavouring to destroy was his commission; but another paper
projected from his pocket. It was a code of private signals, which,
with noble patriotism, he had wished to prevent falling into an enemy's
hands.

"Well, I suppose there is some good in those Frenchmen after all!"
exclaimed old Handlead when he heard of it. "He tried to serve his
country to the last, at all events."

No time was now lost in securing the prisoners and removing them to the
_Ruby_ as the two ships lay alongside each other. Some of the Frenchmen
looked very glum, and evidently, if they could get an opportunity, meant
mischief; but they mostly yielded to the fortune of war with a shrug,
and by the evening were skipping away right merrily, to the sound of Sam
Smatch's fiddle. Indeed, they had little cause for animosity against
him, as he had taken no part whatever in their capture, having
volunteered to remain below to assist the surgeon. The English, in this
gallant action, a type of many which were to follow, had just fifty men
killed and wounded, while the French lost between sixty and seventy.
Just as the last of the prisoners were removed, and the prize crew of
the _Belle Citoyenne_ had got on board, the two ships separated.

When once more the two frigates were in a condition to make sail, and
were standing along amicably together, Captain Garland called the crew
aft. "My lads," he cried, "all have done well to-day. That fine
frigate, now ours, is the best proof of it--won, too, let me tell you,
fro