ty. I put it to you,
whether--as I think it likely we are somewhat over-matched--you'll fight
to preserve this vessel and to save yourself being carried to a French
prison. I have come down to give you your liberty, as I am sure that
you will all make the same answer, and if cutlasses are put into your
hands, that you'll fight as bravely as any men on board. We shall then,
I have no fear, lick the lugger, and carry her as a prize into Plymouth
harbour."

A hearty cheer was given. "We'll thrash the mounseers; no fear about
that," answered the men; Dick joining as warmly as any one.

The men's handcuffs were soon taken off. Dick, on finding himself free,
sprang to his feet and grasped the cutlass which was put into his hands.
On reaching the deck he found the cutter was prepared for action. Two
of the guns were trained aft, boarding-pikes were placed along the
bulwarks. An arm-chest stood open, containing pistols, hand-grenades,
swords, and cutlasses, while a number of muskets lay on the companion
hatch.

The two midshipmen, with pistols in their belts and cutlasses at their
sides, stood watching the lugger, which under press of sail was coming
up astern. She was evidently a much faster craft than the cutter,
though the latter was a stout vessel of her class. The lugger now began
to fire her long gun; the shot, though failing to strike, pitched
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other side of the cutter.

"Why don't we try and knock away some of her spars?" observed Lord
Reginald.

"Little use firing our pop-guns," answered the commander; "our shot
won't reach her as yet."

Presently the long gun sent its missile through the cutter's squaresail.
Another shortly afterwards made a second hole, but did no other damage.

"Those fellows know how to handle their gun. We shall see how they
behave when we get them within range of ours. Stand by, Beal, to give
it them," he said to the gunner, who had brought a match from the galley
fire.

The guns were fired almost simultaneously. What effect their shot
produced could not be seen, though Beal declared that one, if not both,
struck the lugger. They did not, however, stop her way. She fired her
long gun in return. It was well aimed, for down came the squaresail,
the halliards shot away. The lugger's crew were heard cheering.

"Shout away, my fine fellows!" cried Beal; "we'll make you sing a
different note if you come alongside."

Hands were instantl