got lots to
tell you," he continued, after he had exchanged greetings with his
father and sister, and was seated at the breakfast-table. "We haven't
had any actual fight, but we've taken several prizes, one of them, as
big as the _Champion_, cut out in gallant style. She was seen at anchor
in Saint Martin's Roads, and the captain determined to have her. We
stood away, and the Frenchman must have supposed we had gone; but at
night, when it was very dark, we stood back again. Three boats were
then lowered, and I had the good luck to be sent in one of them. We at
once pulled away for the roads with muffled oars. There lay the ship
right ahead of us; we could just see her masts against the sky. The
Frenchmen must have been all asleep, or keeping a very bad look-out, for
we were alongside and our fellows almost on her deck before we were
discovered. The Frenchmen, thus taken by surprise, made but a very
feeble resistance, and though a few of them were knocked over, we didn't
lose a man. The cable was cut and the topsails sheeted home before the
fort began to fire, and as the wind was off shore, we got out of range
with very little damage. We earned our prize into Plymouth, and our
captain, I believe, gained some credit for his exploit; though except
that he designed it, he took no part, for old Tarwig commanded one boat,
and the master, Billhook, another, and one of our mates and I went in
the third. Had half of us been killed, I suppose more would have been
thought of the affair. While at Plymouth we heard from the bumboat
women, who have always the most correct intelligence, that we were to be
sent to the West Indies, and we soon found that they were right; but the
captain got leave to come in here first, to take Lieutenant Foley on
board, and to obtain fresh provisions; so I shall be visiting the old
scenes again, and, I hope, fall in with Owen. That will be good fun;
perhaps we shall have to convoy him home, or maybe, should the _Ouzel
Galley_ fall into the hands of the enemy, retake the ship. Faith,
shouldn't I be delighted."

"Oh, don't talk of such a dreadful thing!" exclaimed Norah. "I hope
that you may have to convoy him home, and that we may see you both back
here in five or six months."

Gerald could stay but a very short time, as he had been ordered to
return on board with Lieutenant Foley. Norah and Captain Tracy
accompanied him into Waterford. They found the lieutenant ready to
start, and No