t, which kept as
close as she could to the "Thisbe," possibly to watch what was going to
take place.

Captain Courtney's object was, of course, to obtain the weather gauge;
and in consequence of having to manoeuvre to obtain it, it was not till
past midnight that the two ships got within range of each other's guns.
Not a man of the "Thisbe's" crew had turned in. The drum beat to
quarters. The men flew to their stations with pistols in their belts
and cutlasses by their sides, eager to begin the fight.

The "Thisbe" was on the starboard tack, when the enemy, on the larboard
tack, slowly glided past her to windward, looking like some dark phantom
stalking over the surface of the deep.

Ronald, who stood on the forecastle with his father, watched her with
intense eagerness. Presently a sheet of flame burst from her side,
followed by the loud thunder of the guns and the whizzing of shot. A
few came near the English frigate, but none struck her.

"Return the compliment, my lads. Give it them!" exclaimed Captain
Courtney.

The crew, with a cheer, obeyed the order, the flashes of their guns
throwing a ruddy glow on the bulwarks and the figures of the crew, as
stern and grim they stood at their quarters.

"Hands about ship!" was the next order issued; and the "Thisbe," tacking
in the wake of her opponent, stood after her.

"Father," asked Ronald, as he stood by Morton's side on the forecastle,
"will the Frenchman try to escape us?"

"No fear of that, he would not have come out at first if he had intended
to play us that trick," was the answer. "He has made one slight
mistake, though; he fancies that he is going to take us; and it's my
firm belief that we are going to take him."

"I hope so, father," answered Ronald. "I would sooner die than be taken
by a Frenchman."

"That is the right spirit, my boy," exclaimed Rolf, warmly. "But little
fear of what will happen--our captain is not a man to throw away a
chance of victory."

While they were speaking, the "Thisbe" was rapidly coming up with the
enemy; and as her guns could be brought to bear they were fired in quick
succession--the French frigate returning them with right good will,
though as her shot flew high, the "Thisbe's" masts and spars suffered
more than her hull, and few of her men had hitherto been hit.

Morton looked anxiously aloft. "It will be a bad job if they go," he
muttered to himself. He then sent Ronald aft to ascertain the condition
of