ngth struck their colours, but
Thurot held out to the last. The _Aeolus_, discharging another
broadside, ran her aboard, when grappling-irons were secured and the
boarders called away, led by Norman Foley and Gerald Tracy. Her deck
already presented the appearance of a perfect shambles, so many of her
crew lay dead and dying in all directions. A determined band still held
out, headed by an officer who, by his shouts and gestures, encouraged
his men to fight till the last. Gerald at first supposed that he must
be Thurot, but a second look convinced him that he was a much taller and
darker man. Just as the British crew sprang on board a rifle bullet
struck him on the chest, and, throwing up his sword-arm, he fell
backward on the deck, when the rest of the crew, retreating, shouted out
that they yielded. One of the men aft immediately hauled down the
French flag.

Among the slain was Thurot, who had been struck down just before the
ship got alongside.

Gerald then approached the officer he had seen killed. A glance
convinced him that he was no other than O'Harrall. This was confirmed
by Tim Maloney, who had joined the _Aeolus_ with him, and corroborated
by some of the French prisoners, who stated that he had only a short
time before come on board the ship, having lately arrived from the West
Indies.

"This will not be unsatisfactory news to Owen Massey," observed Gerald
to Norman Foley. "It is my belief that he is the last of the
O'Harralls, and Owen will have a good chance of recovering the property
of which they so unjustly deprived his family."

The prizes were towed into Ramsay Bay, in the Isle of Man, for the brave
Thurot's ship had not struck until her hold was half full of water, and
she was in an almost sinking state.

The French commodore was buried with the honours due to a gallant foe,
and many who had formerly known him mourned his fate.

The _Aeolus_ being paid off, Lieutenant Foley obtained his commander's
rank. When the war was over his young wife would not allow him again to
go to sea.

Gerald stuck to the service and became an admiral.

Owen Massey, having regained his paternal property, remained on shore,
although he joined the representative crew of "The Ouzel Galley," of
which for many years he held the honourable post of captain.

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Missing Ship, by W. H. G. Kingston

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISSING