ll right," was the reply from the French captain; "you have won the
game, monsieur, so I will not attempt to rob you of the credit of
victory. You managed the affair exceedingly well, _mon ami_, and have
taught me a lesson I shall remember for the rest of my life. You may
come on board and take possession as soon as you like."

He then gave the necessary orders in French to his crew; the halliards
and sheets were let fly on board the _Aurora_, George reducing sail at
the same time in the brig, and the two vessels, losing way, began
gradually to drop into the rear portion of the convoy.

Captain Leicester did not, however, accept the French captain's
invitation to go on board and take possession once more of his own ship;
that proceeding would have been just a trifle too risky. He had the
game in his own hands, and intended to keep it there; so he quietly
waited until one of the men-o'-war should come alongside, as he knew
would soon be the case, in response to his signal.

In a short time another brig was seen approaching under a perfect cloud
of sail, an unmistakably English gun-brig this time, however. Sweeping
up on the port quarter of George's prize, an officer sprang into the
main-rigging, and hailed--

"Brig ahoy! What brig is that?"

"The _Jeune Virginie_, French privateer," answered George. "She
managed, somehow, to slip in among the fleet unobserved in the darkness,
and threw a heavy boarding-party in on the deck of my vessel--the
_Aurora_ I suspected her designs just in time, however, and as her crew
boarded me, I boarded her, and succeeded in taking possession; the two
ships separating immediately and thus preventing the return of the
French to their own craft."

"Ah, I see," remarked the officer. "You effected an exchange of
ships--`choppee for changee--a black dog for a blue monkey,' eh? And
now you want us to get your own ship back for you?"

"Not exactly," answered George with a laugh; "I have already forced her
to surrender; that is the craft--the barque immediately under my lee.
But I shall feel obliged if you will take charge of the prisoners, and
lend me sufficient men to navigate my prize into port."

"Um; well, I really do not quite know about that. I will man your prize
for you to-night; but you must see the commodore about the matter in the
morning; if he will authorise me to lend you a prize-crew, of course I
shall be very happy. By the way, where did the Frenchman come from?"