hing but making money."

This remark was made by Lord Claymore, after the frigate had been for
some time in commission--had been to America and back, and being now on
the French coast, had sent home a few more captures, though not of any
very great value.

"That may be very well for a captain who has made the best part of
eighty thousand pounds," thought Morton, "but for a poor lieutenant, who
has made not a twentieth part of that, yet wants it as much, it is a
very different affair."

Ronald had begun to find the value of money, and also that it has wings
with which to betake itself away. He acquiesced, however, in the
propriety of fighting. An opportunity was not long wanting.

Before many days had passed the frigate was off the Isle d'Aix, on the
French coast. She stood in; the captain and most of the officers with
glasses at their eyes watching for the appearance of a French fleet. At
length the masts and spars of several line-of-battle ships came in view.
Still the frigate stood on till a three-decker--an eighty-gun ship--
three seventy-fours, four frigates, and three brigs were counted. The
little English frigate paraded up and down before the roadstead, but
none ventured out to attack her. It was the French squadron under
Admiral Allemand.

"I have been thinking over a plan which may sound terrible to the ears
of some, but it is both feasible and right, I fully believe," said the
captain, after taking several turns on deck, and addressing his first
lieutenant. "We might set fire to or blow up into the air, one and all
of those ships. I only wish that there were more together. You see
they are deep in the water. They have stores on board, and are
evidently intended for some expedition or other; an attack on our West
India Islands, or to attack us in some other vulnerable part. They must
or should be got rid of: other plans might be adopted; but I hold to
that of the fire-ships. I should delight in conducting the enterprise.
With a few brave men under me, on whose coolness and judgment I could
rely, it would be certain to succeed. Morton, I would select you.
Would it not be a glorious work?"

"If you selected me, my lord, I would certainly follow you, and do my
utmost to carry out your directions," answered Morton; "but the idea of
employing fire-ships has never been congenial to my taste. I would
rather meet the enemy and destroy him in a general engagement."

"That sounds very right and chiv