ltwell, who wanted, he said, to have another look
at the remains of the old barkie. The midshipman was examining the
black ribs of the wreck appearing above water through the telescope
which the lieutenant had lent him, when the latter exclaimed, "Do you
see a sail away to the south-east?"

The sun glanced for a moment on her canvas.

"Yes, sir," answered Rayner. "She's a large craft, too, for I can only
just see her royals rising above the horizon. She's standing in this
direction."

"Hand me the glass," said Mr Saltwell. "You are right, youngster," he
continued, looking through it. "I only hope that she may be one of our
own cruisers, but it will be some time before that point can be
decided."

After watching the approaching stranger for some time the lieutenant and
midshipman returned with the intelligence to the farm-house where the
captain and several of the other officers were quartered.

Hoping that she might be the _Ione_, Captain Martin ordered the first
yawl to be got ready to go off to her. The crew were then mustered.
Eight did not answer to their names. It was known how five had died,
but what had become of the other three? At length it was whispered
among the men that they had managed to get drinking the previous night,
and had fallen below, stupefied by the smoke.

The men having breakfasted, the greater number hurried down to the shore
to have a look at the stranger, now approaching under all sail.

Three cheers were uttered as the flag of England flew out at her peak.
The captain immediately ordered Mr Sterling to pull off to her, and to
request that his officers and ship's company might be received on board.

"You will make sure before you get near that she is English," he
whispered. "The Frenchman may have a fancy to take some Spaniards
prisoners, and would be better pleased to get hold of you."

Rayner went as midshipman of the boat, which made good way towards the
frigate now lying hove-to about three miles from the shore.

"What do you think of her, Noakes?" asked the lieutenant of the
coxswain, as they got nearer.

The old seaman took a steady glance at the stranger, surveying her from
truck to water-line.

"If she doesn't carry a British crew, the Frenchmen must have got hold
of her since we parted company three days ago, and I don't think that's
likely, or there would be not a few shot-holes in her canvas, and a
pretty good sprinkling in her hull, too," he answered, in a c