vas aback, and the rest of her sails fluttering loudly in the
wind.

"One hand to the wheel, and jam it hard up," commanded George; "the rest
of you to your stations. Mr Bowen and Mr Cross, you will mount guard
over the galley-doors, if you please, until we have got the ship round.
Raise tacks and sheets, round with the main-yard, and flatten in
forward. Well, there, with the main-braces. Now swing your fore-yard,
board the fore and main-tacks, and haul over the head-sheets. Right
your helm, my lad; give her a spoke or two, if _you find_ she wants it,
as she gathers way, and then keep her `full and by.' Now, lads, never
mind about coiling up just now; you can do that after we have attended
to the prisoners; come forward and open the weather galley-door, and as
the Frenchmen pass out, seize them and lash their hands and heels
together."

These orders were promptly executed, the discomfited Frenchmen being
permitted to pass out of the galley only one at a time. Cross's burly
form, drawn cutlass and conspicuously displayed pistol, supported by the
appearance of the barque's crew in his immediate background, proving an
effectual deterrent to any attempt on the part of the privateersmen to
make a rush for freedom, and in something like a couple of hours from
the time of her capture, the _Aurora_, was once more in the undisputed
possession of her rightful owner.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE CONVOY.

About daybreak the wind veered round and blew a fine, fresh, steady
breeze from the northward, enabling the barque to lay her course with
flowing sheets; and sunset found her safely anchored in Plymouth Sound,
one of a fleet of nearly two hundred merchantmen, which had assembled
there for the purpose of being convoyed across the Atlantic.

The convoy was to sail on the following day but one; the men-o'-war
which constituted their escort were already in the Sound, along with
several other ships of the royal navy; and as the cable smoked out
through the _Aurora's_ hawse-pipe that evening, when she dropped her
anchor, George fondly hoped his troubles were at an end.

But he was mistaken.

As soon as the canvas was furled, Captain Leicester manned a boat, and,
proceeding on board the admiral's ship reported the circumstance of the
capture and recapture of his vessel, requesting at the same time to be
relieved as soon as possible of the custody of his prisoners. This was
speedily arranged. By the admiral's