at the
prisoner's head, Paul proceeded to lash his arms and legs, and to secure
him to one of the guns.

"Well done, mate!" exclaimed Tom Marline from aft. "And now just come
and have a look at Mr Nott. I think that he's coming to."

"And I do hope that Harry isn't killed either!" cried Fid. "He's
breathing, and that's more than dead men can do."

In a little time both Mr Midshipman Nott and the boy Hartland came to
themselves, and sat up rubbing their eyes, as if trying to understand
what had occurred. The moment the truth flashed on Mr Nott's mind, he
sprang to his feet, and, seizing a stretcher, the nearest weapon he
could lay hold of, stood on the defensive, looking about for an enemy.

He was much relieved in his mind when he saw one of the Frenchmen lying
not far off dead on the deck, and another sitting bound, where Paul and
True Blue had placed him, between the guns.

"What! have we come off victorious in the struggle?" he exclaimed,
turning to Marline.

"Yes, sir," answered the seaman, "we've been and drubbed the Monsieurs;
but there are still two on 'em below kicking up a bobbery. If you'll
take the helm, sir, I'll go and help Pringle to make them fast."

"No, no," answered the midshipman somewhat indignantly, as if his
courage or strength had been called in question. "I can do that. You
stay at the helm."

When the Frenchman and the black had jumped down into the forepeak, Tim
Fid had very wisely clapped the hatch on, so that they were left in
darkness, and were also unable to return again on deck. Pringle was on
the point of taking off the hatch to secure the two men when the
midshipman got forward.

"Very glad, sir, to see you all to rights," said Paul, looking up. "I
suppose that you'll wish us to get hold of the two fellows down below?"

"By all means. I'll hail them and advise them to surrender at
discretion."

The hatch was taken off, and Mr Nott explained, as well as his limited
knowledge of French would allow, that all their chance of success was
gone. Only the black man answered. Mr Nott ordered him to come up.

"_L'autre est mort_," (the other is dead), said he as he made his
appearance, looking very much frightened.

"He is as treacherous as the rest; it will not do to let him be at
liberty," said Mr Nott. "It was he who knocked me down and began the
mutiny."

The black was accordingly lashed to a gun on the opposite side of the
deck, facing his companion.

On going