the French captain. At first I could not see him, but
as his crew retreated from Captain Levee and his men, I perceived him,
pale and exhausted, but still attempting to rally them. As my object
was to take him alive, I rushed in advance at him, wrestled, and threw
him on his back on the deck. There I held him, while the combatants,
fighting and retreating, tumbled over us one after another, and bruised
us severely with their weight. At last the French were beaten below,
and I had time to breathe; calling to two of my men, I desired them to
take charge of the French captain, and, as they valued their lives, not
to let him escape, or destroy himself but to take him into our vessel
and guard him carefully in my cabin. Having done this, I went to
Captain Levee, and we embraced.

"You did not come a minute too soon," I said, wiping the blood from my
face.

"No, indeed; and, but for your clever manoeuvre you would have been
beaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to this;--you did well,
more than well, to maintain the combat so long. Have you lost many
men?"

"We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have followed since I
do not know: I have the French captain safe in my cabin."

"I saw the men hand him over:--well, now to repair damages, and then I
will tell you what you shall do. I must send on board and help you; the
Arrow has not suffered much considering, and I can spare the men. As
soon as we have cleared up the decks a little, we will breakfast
together, and talk the matter over."

It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our vessels,
for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge of the prize.
Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I went down into my
cabin, where the French captain lay bound and watched by two of the men.

"You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?" said I.

"I am, Sir," he replied. "I now understand what you meant when you said
that I should meet with my match. I have no one to blame but myself. I
urge you to the conditions, expecting an easy and certain conquest with
my superior vessel. I have fallen into my own net, and there's an end
of the matter--except that when things go wrong, a woman is certain to
be at the bottom of it."

"I am aware, Sir," I replied, "that your wife instigated you to act as
you did, or you would never have so behaved. In attempting to revenge
the death of one husband she has lost two