member of the apiarian republic. There is a vast deal of very
indifferent music in the very best of fiddles, and I feel quite
convinced that had some less active officer commanded even the
_Tonneraire_, he would have had little to show at the end of his cruise.

In his daring cutting-out expeditions Jack had been invariably
successful. First and foremost he chased the vessel, and failing to
overhaul her, he bore away seawards again, as if he had given up all
hope, she perhaps taking refuge under the guns of a fort. But although
he might sail out of sight of land, soon as the shades of evening began
to fall the _Tonneraire_ came round. Then all depended on cleverness and
pluck.

The _Ferdinand_ was a gun-brig that, on the morning of the 12th of June
'97, had saucily fired at the _Tonneraire_, then shown her a clean pair
of heels. She was near to the port of T----, so could afford to be
insolent. Jack sent a fifty-six pound shot tearing through her rigging,
without doing much damage, on which the _Ferdinand_ fired again from her
stern. Only a puff of white smoke, only a ten-pound shot, with a sound
withal like that of a boy's pop-gun. But it was enough. Jack's Highland
blood was up; and he said to M'Hearty, who was near him on the poop,
"I'll have her, if only for her insolence."

M'Hearty laughed. It was not polite; but he couldn't help it. For the
doctor and captain of the _Tonneraire_ were the dearest friends.

"You've been much livelier and happier within this last month or two,"
said M'Hearty. "Tell me, sir, are you in love?"

"What would you do if I were?"

"Nothing, Captain Jack. I've got pills to cure melancholy; but for love,
well, I never had it myself, so I shouldn't know what to do. But--may
you be happy."

It was very dark that night when the _Tonneraire_ stole silently back.
She hauled her main-yard aback, and five armed boats, under command of
Tom, were despatched to cut the saucy Frenchman out. The oars were
muffled, and there was not a glimmer of light permitted to shine
anywhere about the ship.

The captain of marines and Murray both went in different boats, and on
this occasion M'Hearty himself. The great fellow said he wanted to
stretch his legs and swing his arms about a bit.

"Don't get shot, anyhow, doctor," said Jack.

"My clear Captain Mackenzie, I'm positively bulletproof."

Young Murray was in high glee. He put on white gloves for the occasion.
M'Hearty left his sword on board, an