h them,
they would be restored to liberty; but, at the same time, they would
feel very sorry that their kind friends should lose their vessel and be
made prisoners; still, Jack wanted to let his mother know that he was
alive, and Bill wished to be on board a man-of-war again, fighting for
Old England, and getting a foot or two up the ratlines.

His ambition had been aroused by what the captain had said to him, and
the assistant master had observed, though he had spoken in joke, that he
might, some day or other, become an admiral.

Bill had thought the subject over and over, till he began to fancy that,
could he get another chance, the road to fame might be open to him. The
loss of the ship with the captain and officers seemed, to be sure, to
have overthrown all his hopes; but what had happened once might happen
again, and by attending to his duty, and keeping his eyes open, and his
wits awake, he might have another opportunity of distinguishing himself.

No one could possibly have suspected what was passing in Bill's mind, as
he worked away as energetically as the rest in stowing the nets and
making sail.

The stranger was now made out to a certainty to be an English frigate,
and a fast one, too, by the way she slipped through the water.

The wind was from the south-east, and being thus partially off shore,
would enable the frigate to stand in closer to the land than she
otherwise might have ventured to do. This greatly diminished the
chances of the cutter's escape.

Captain Turgot, however, like a brave man, did not tear his hair, or
stamp, or swear, as Frenchmen are sometimes supposed to do, but, taking
the helm, set every sail his craft could carry, and did his best, by
careful steering, to keep to windward of the enemy.

Could he once get into harbour he would be safe, unless the frigate
should send her boats in to cut his vessel out. The cutter possessed a
couple of long sweeps. Should it fall calm, they would be of use; but
at present the breeze was too strong to render them necessary.

The crew kept looking astern to watch the progress made by their
pursuer, which was evidently coming up with them. What chance, indeed,
had a little fishing craft with a dashing frigate?

An idea occurred to Jack which had not struck Bill.

"Suppose we are taken--and it looks to me as if we shall be before
long--what will they say on board the frigate when they find us rigged
out in fisherman's clothes? They will b