ck and several other men, securely lashed it there, in
spite of the fire which the marines from the enemy's forecastle opened
on him and his companions.

The bullets from the Frenchmen's muskets came rattling sharply on board.
Two of the seamen were hit, and just at the same moment their young
commander was seen to fall. A midshipman and the purser, who were
standing by his side, caught him in their arms.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

CONCLUSION.

"Keep at it, my lads, until she strikes!" cried the young commander, as
he fell.

Captain Saltwell had meantime, seeing what would occur, ordered two guns
to be run out at the after ports. Scarcely had they been fired when an
officer, springing into the forecastle of the French ship, waved his hat
and shouted that they had struck.

Oliver and Jack, on looking round for Rayner, and seeing him bleeding on
the deck, forgetful of everything else, sprang aft to his side. At that
moment the crew raised a cheer of victory; Rayner feebly attempted to
join in it. He was carried below. With anxious hearts his officers and
crew waited to hear the report of the surgeon.

It was Oliver's duty to go on board and take possession of the prize.
Unwillingly he left his friend's side. Of the _Lily's_ crew five had
been killed, and many more beside her commander, wounded. But Oliver
saw, as he stepped on board the prize, how much more severely she had
suffered. Everywhere lay dead and dying men. How dread and terrible a
fact is war! A lieutenant, coming forward, presented his sword.

"My captain lies there," he said, pointing to a form covered by a flag.
"The second lieutenant is wounded below; three other officers are among
the dead. We did not yield while we had a chance of victory."

"Yours is a brave nation, and I must compliment you on the gallant way
in which you fought your ship," answered Oliver, in the best French he
could command.

To lose no time, the prisoners were removed, the prize taken in tow, and
all sail made for Plymouth.

At length the surgeon come on deck.

"The commander will do well, I trust," he said; "but I shall be glad to
get him on shore as soon as possible. As soon as I had extracted the
bullet, he sent me off to look after the other wounded men, saying that
they wanted my care as well as he did."

The crew on this gave a suppressed cheer. It would have been louder and
more prolonged, but they were afraid of disturbing the commander and the