ea as to the
possibility of retaking the barque had been gradually attaining definite
shape in George's mind. It was rather a desperate attempt to make, it
is true, with himself and the two mates shut up there in the cabin aft,
while the crew were doubtless confined in the forecastle, and with no
possibility of effecting a junction with them. Still, if Bowen and
Cross were willing to run the risk of assisting him, it might be worth
while to try it.

Thinking thus, he drew his head inside the stern-port, and made his way
back into the main cabin, where he found the two mates, with their arms
crossed upon their chests, and their heads bowed upon their breasts,
asleep.

Giving them a gentle shake apiece, to arouse them, he sat down beside
them and asked them bluntly if they felt disposed to run a little risk
in an attempt to retake the barque, and so avoid a French prison.

"You may reckon on me for one, sir, if you've hit upon anything likely
in the shape of a plan," heartily answered the chief mate; "and Cross
here, I know, won't hold back either, unless I'm greatly mistaken in
him."

"Never fear," said Cross; "if you give the word, sir, and the ship is to
be retook, we'll have her. But how do you propose to do it?--it'll have
to be a surprise, I s'pose?"

"Listen," said George. "What I propose is this. The stern-ports are
all open; and I believe that, by assisting each other, we may manage to
creep out through them on to the main-brace boom-iron, and thence make
our way along the ship's side, _outside_ the bulwarks, forward, when, by
watching our opportunity, we may possibly manage to overpower the guard
on the forecastle, throw off the hatch, and release our own lads, and
then we must just make a fight for it. We may perhaps--we three--manage
to take along with us a cutlass and a brace of pistols each; but the men
must do the best they can with hand-spikes, belaying-pins, and, in
short, anything they can lay their hands upon."

"A very promising plan indeed, sir," answered the chief mate. "The next
question is, when are we to set about it?"

"The sooner the better," answered George; "so go at once, please, for
your pistols; load them carefully; take a cutlass each from the rack;
and then we will proceed to business."

In a very _few_ minutes the trio were ready. Going softly into George's
state-room, they paused for a minute or two to listen for any sounds
which might furnish them with a clue to the c