ashed on, jumped over the rough wall cutlass in
hand, and in less than a minute the place was once more in English
hands.

"More prisoners than we want," said Syd; but they were soon got rid of,
being disarmed, and compelled to lower themselves down a rope to the
foot of the great natural wall, where they were huddling together, a
discontented-looking group, when Syd had taken the swords of the other
French officers and sent the British colours flying once more from the
flagstaff.

The French lieutenant shrugged his shoulders as he handed his sword to
Syd.

"_Ah, vous anglais_!" he muttered, and then to one of his companions in
French--

"It is of no use to try any longer. The men from the English frigate
will be ashore directly. But to be beaten by that boy!"

He was quite right. Before an hour had elapsed two well-manned boats
from the _Sirius_ was at the landing-place to take possession and charge
of the prisoners, while in another hour Syd was standing before his
father, giving him an account of all that had been done.

Captain Belton listened almost grimly to his son's narrative, and when
he had finished--

"Well, sir," said the captain; "and what have you to say for yourself?
You went ashore without leave. Of course you will be punished."

"Yes, sir."

"Where are Mr Roylance and Mr Terry?"

"Ashore, sir, wounded both."

"And Mr Dallas badly, I hear. Tut--tut--tut! and I have a terrible
array of losses to confront here. Well, you have something else to
say?"

Syd was hesitating, for he had a painful duty to perform. Had he been
the only holder of the knowledge of his messmate's treachery, he would
have held his tongue: but it was known to all on shore, and he told
everything.

"Go now," said the father, "I am too busy to say more. You can stay on
board; I will give orders for a fresh party to occupy the rock."

Syd thought his father might have forgotten the captain a little more at
their encounter, and given him a word of praise; but he smothered his
feelings, and joined his messmates in the gun-room, for the middies'
quarters were horribly occupied just then by the doctors.

He had stared aghast at the shattered aspect of the deck and rigging,
and seen that the French frigate was no better, and then learned that
which he was longing to hear.

It was a simple matter; the gale they had felt on the rock had grown
into a hurricane outside, and in the midst of it both the _Sirius_ and
he