ch at home in the water as on shore.
He struck out with one hand while he supported the young midshipman with
the other. His first fear was that the French ship would run them down,
but a few strokes carried him and his charge clear of that danger. He
next attempted to get alongside her. He looked up, and saw her dark
hull rising up above him. There were plenty of ropes hanging overboard;
he found one that appeared secure above; he put it into the midshipman's
hands.

"There, Mr Glover," he exclaimed; "we shall be the first on the enemy's
deck after all."

He was not long in finding another rope for himself, and to the surprise
of the Frenchmen they found two stranger boys standing on their
quarter-deck.

"Have you come to take possession?" asked a lieutenant in tolerable
English. "What! are all your superior officers killed?"

"Oh, no, monsieur," answered the midshipman; "they will be on board
presently; but we are somewhat lighter craft, so made quicker work of
it."

The second lieutenant of the "Thisbe" and his companions soon made their
appearance, having clambered in over the bows; and the French frigate,
which was found to be the "Concorde"--one of the largest class in the
French navy--was formally taken possession of.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

MORNING AFTER THE BATTLE--RONALD PLACED ON QUARTERDECK--RONALD SENT ON
BOARD THE PRIZE--A SUSPICIOUS SAIL IN SIGHT--GALLANT DEFENCE OF THE
"THISBE"--NIGHT CLOSES ON THE FIGHT.

As the bright cheerful light of morning broke on the world of waters,
there lay the two frigates, which, when the sun went down, looked so
gallant and so trim--now shorn of their beauty, shattered and blackened
wrecks.

The foremast of the "Thisbe" was alone standing, while all the masts of
the French frigate, with their sails, and yards, and rigging, hung in
masses of wreck and confusion over her sides. The decks covered with
blood and gore, and the shattered remnants of mortality, presented a
horrible and disgusting scene; while the broken bulwarks, the decks
ploughed up, the wheel shot away, and the ruined condition of every part
of the ship, showed the desperate nature of the conflict, and told of
the bravery of the gallant French crew who had endured so much before
they had consented to yield.

Onboard the "Thisbe" the carpenters were busily employed in patching up
some of the boats, so that the prisoners might be removed from the
prize, while the rest of the crew were engaged i