, when the sound of a gun, which seemed to
come up far away from the southward, reached his ears.

"What can that be?" he asked of the first lieutenant, who just then
joined him.

"That's more than I can positively say," answered Mr Curling. "It must
be a signal from one of the convoy, something must have happened to her,
and she wishes to draw our attention."

While he was speaking the sound of another gun came up from the same
direction.

"We will run down and see what's the matter," said the captain; "but you
need not turn the hands up at present."

The helm was put up, the yards squared away, and the frigate, allowing
the sternmost of the merchantmen to pass her, ran down in the direction
whence the sound of the firing had come, and where, a long way off, a
light could be seen, showing the whereabouts of the vessel supposed to
be in distress. Several times the sound of a gun was heard, and the
frigate, as she drew nearer, returned the signal. All eyes were
directed towards the light, when flashes were seen, the rattle of small
arms was heard over the clashing of cutlasses, and some declared that
they could distinguish the shouts and cries of men engaged in mortal
combat.

"There can be no doubt as to what is passing. Turn up the hands,
Curling. There seems to be either mutiny on board the ship, or some
other vessel has run her aboard. If we attempt to go alongside with
this sea on, we shall too probably sink both together, while if we fire
into one, we may injure our friends. We must board her in the boats.
We will stand on, shorten sail, heave the ship to, then lower them and
let them drop alongside."

"Ay, ay, sir," said the first lieutenant, and immediately issued the
necessary orders.

So fiercely engaged all the time were the two vessels, that no signal
was made by the English merchantman to show that she was aware help was
at hand. The captain's orders were quickly executed, and the frigate
now being on the weather bows of the two ships, the boats were lowered
and placed under the command of the second and third lieutenants, Mr
Bitts, Voules, Paddy Logan, and another midshipman, with a party of
marines, going in them. They had not far to pull, for the vessels going
ahead, the boats dropped alongside the English merchantman, which was to
windward.

Led by Mr Jager, Lord Reginald and Mr Bitts quickly clambered up her
side, and reached her deck, where a fierce struggle was taking place,
the