tten us. The chase, indeed, probably
absorbed their attention as it did ours. Few of us doubted that the
English frigate would ultimately capture the Frenchman; but should she
do so would she of necessity come back with her prize to our island, or
would she sail away, and, perhaps ignorant of our existence, leave us to
our fate? One thing was evident, that we ought to guard ourselves
against the insolence of the French garrison. The men were evidently
the scum of society, and should they find themselves without restraint,
it was impossible to say what atrocities they might not commit. Anxious
as we were to know the result of the chase, we agreed at once to go back
to our friends to give them warning, and to consult with them what steps
to adopt. Before leaving our look-out place we took one more anxious
glance at the two ships. Both O'Carroll and the midshipmen declared
that the _Phoebe_ was positively overhauling the _Mignonne_, and that in
a short time we should see the latter haul down her flag. I doubted it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

ATTACKED BY THE FRENCH FLEET.

Our friends on board the Indiaman were thrown into high spirits on
hearing of the prospect of being released. They advised us, however, to
get on shore again as fast as we could, and hide ourselves, lest the
soldiers, hoping to be ultimately successful, should ill-treat us for
having run away from them. We told them that our intention had been to
release all the English prisoners, and to overpower the Frenchmen.

"Blood will be shed if you do, to no purpose," observed the judge;
"should the frigate be successful and come back here, as I have no doubt
she will, we shall be released; if the _Mignonne_ escapes and returns,
her crew would quickly again overpower us and obtain what they wish, a
good excuse for ill-treating us, of which they will not fail to avail
themselves."

The judge's opinion carried the day, and we hurried on shore, and
returned by a circuitous route to the spot whence we had witnessed the
engagement between the two vessels. William eagerly swept the dark
well-defined line of the horizon with his telescope.

"Hurrah! there is one--yes, there are two sails! Here, O'Carroll, see
what you can make out of them," he exclaimed, handing him the glass.

It was some time before O'Carroll would pronounce an opinion. He then
declared positively that there were two ships, and that they were
approaching the land. There was a strong bre