m the moment the first shot was fired till the flag was hauled down,
in less than an hour. When all have done their duty like brave British
seamen, I can scarcely pick out any in particular to praise; but there
is one lad among you who rendered material service in the work of the
day."

Paul Pringle brightened, and, his countenance beaming with pleasure, he
placed his hand on his godson's shoulder. The Captain went on:

"There was one shot which especially tended to secure us the prize; that
shot was fired by the boy Freeborn--True Blue Freeborn. I shall have my
eye upon him. If he goes on as he has begun, he will be an honour to
the service, and rise in it, too, if I mistake not. Lads, you have all
my hearty thanks, and our King and country will thank you too."

Three hearty cheers for their gallant Captain were given by the crew as
he finished his address; and then, however unexpected, and as Paul
Pringle expressed himself, "almost dumfoundering," three more were
raised for Billy True Blue Freeborn, the pride of the crew. No one
shouted louder than Tim Fid and Harry Hartland; but Gipples growled out
as he sneaked below, "It'll be all the same some day when a shot takes
his head off. They can't keep that on with all their petting."

The next day the frigate reached Portsmouth, where the brave French
Captain was buried with all the honours of war; and Captain Garland, and
his officers and ship's company, received the praises and rewards which
they so well-merited for their gallant achievement.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

The frigate very soon had made good the damages she received in the
fight, and once more put to sea, all on board wishing for nothing better
than a similar encounter with another enemy, feeling full confidence
that the result would be the same.

One morning at daybreak, when True Blue had been sent aloft to take a
lookout and report any sail in sight, his keen eye detected a small
speck floating in the calm, hazy ocean. He knew that the speck was a
boat, and hailed to that effect. There was a light breeze from the
eastward, and the frigate, under all plain sail, was standing on a
bowline to the southward. She was hauled up a few more points, to fetch
the boat, which it was soon seen, instead of attempting to escape, was
approaching the frigate. Numerous were the conjectures as to what she
was; for although an open boat out in mid-channel was not exactly a
novelty, still any incident was of i