.

Numbers of people stood on the French shore watching the combat, and
much disappointed they must have been at its termination. The
_Reunion's_ consort, the _Semillante_, was seen to make an attempt to
come out of harbour to her assistance; but there was not wind sufficient
for her to stem a contrary and very strong tide.

"I do wish she'd come!" exclaimed Paul Pringle as he eyed her, while he
and his companions were repairing damages, again to make sail. "We'd
have her too--I know we should."

"I thought that I should bring you good luck, Monsieur le Captain," said
the old pilot when the action was over; "I always do."

"I hope you will stay with us and bring us more, then," answered Captain
Garland.

"With all my heart," was the answer; and so it was arranged.

Some time after this the _Ruby_ put into Plymouth, from whence she was
ordered to proceed to Guernsey in company with the _Druid_, a
thirty-two-gun frigate, and the _Eurydice_, a twenty-four-gun ship.

A bright lookout was as usual kept. The squadron had got to the
distance of about twelve leagues to the northward of the island, when
one of the lookouts hailed that two ships were in sight to the westward.
Presently two more and a fifth was made out. Whether friends or foes,
at first it was difficult to say; but clear glasses were brought to bear
on them, and it was declared that they were two fifty-gun ships, two
large frigates and a brig, which had crowded all sail in chase.

Many a man might have been daunted by these fearful odds. True British
seamen never give in while there is a possibility of escape. Captain
Garland called aft the old Guernsey pilot and had a short conversation
with him. "Then I'll do it," was his remark, and threw out a signal for
the _Eurydice_ to make the best of her way under all sail for Guernsey.

Meantime he and the _Druid_, under easy sail, waited the approach of the
enemy. On they came, exulting in their strength, and confident of
making prizes of the two British frigates. The latter, nothing daunted,
opened their fire on the enemy in a way which must not a little have
astonished them.

"Our Captain knows what he is about," observed Paul Pringle in his usual
quiet way, as some of the frigate's shots were seen to strike the
headmost of one of the French ships.

"What! Paul, are we going to take all those big ships?" asked True Blue
with much animation. "That will be fine work."

"As to taking them, Billy