and seamen, so that out of
her establishment she could scarcely muster more than a hundred men.

It was night, a light breeze blowing, the island of Desirade bearing
south-east by south, distant six or seven leagues. The two lieutenants
had been talking of home. In a few months they expected to be at
Plymouth, and Rayner's thoughts had been occupied, as they often were,
with his brother officer's sweet sister, Mary Crofton.

Rayner had just come on deck to relieve Oliver, who had the middle
watch. He had been pacing the deck, waiting for daylight, to commence
the morning operation of washing decks, and was looking to windward,
when, as the light slowly increased, at some little distance off he made
out the dim outline of a large ship. Whether she was a friend or foe he
could not determine; if the latter, the position of the _Lily_ was
critical in the extreme. He instantly sent the midshipman of the watch
to arouse the commander, who hurried on deck. After watching the
stranger for a few seconds, they both came to the conclusion that she
was a frigate, and, as they knew of no English vessel of her class
likely to be thereabouts, that she was French.

"Turn the hands up and make sail," said the commander. "We shall
probably have to fight, but when the odds are so decidedly against us,
it is my duty to avoid an action if I can."

The crew at the boatswain's summons came tumbling up from below. All
sail was immediately made, and the _Lily's_ head directed to the
north-west. She was seen, however, and quickly followed by the frigate,
the freshening breeze giving an advantage to the larger vessel, which,
having the weather-gauge, and sailing remarkably fast rapidly
approached.

"We've caught a Tartar at last!" exclaimed Tom. "The sooner we go below
and put on our best clothes he better; we shall be taken aboard her
before the day's much older."

"How do you dare to say that!" cried Jack. "Look up there, you see our
flag flying aloft, and I for one would sooner have our tight little
craft sent to the bottom than be ordered to strike it. Our skipper
hasn't given in yet, and if he falls our first lieutenant will fight the
ship as long as he has a plank to stand on."

Some of the crew, however, appeared to side with Tom, and showed an
inclination to desert their guns.

Rayner and Oliver went among them and cheered them up.

"Lads!" cried the commander, who had observed some of them wavering as
they gazed w