ey are no longer enemies--we'll try and save them," shouted Morton.

His proposal met with a ready response from the officers and crews of
the other boats, and in spite of the shot from the heated guns of the
burning ship, away they dashed to the rescue of the Frenchmen.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

EDDA IN GERARDIN'S POWER--THE FRIGATE STEERS FOR ROCHELLE--CAPTAIN
TACON--PEDRO ALTAREZ AND FATHER MENDEZ--TACON BETRAYS LORD CLAYMORE'S
PLANS.

When Edda Armytage discovered by whom the brig had been captured, her
dread of the consequences, added to the grief and terror she had been
experiencing, overcame her, and she fainted. When she returned to
consciousness she found herself on a sofa in a handsome well-furnished
cabin; her mother was tenderly watching by her side, and her father was
walking up and down making observations partly to himself and partly to
his wife.

"Yes, it is provoking to be captured just as we were reaching England, I
own that," he observed. "How long we may be detained it is impossible
to say. Yet things might be much worse. For the first lieutenant of
the ship I have a great regard. You never appreciated him properly,
Edda. Is that poor daughter of ours likely to come round soon? I must
beg the surgeon of the ship to see her. Oh, well, if you think there is
no danger perhaps she is better as she is. Now, with regard to this
young officer, I take a deep interest in him. His history is, I
confess, a mystery, but I hope to have the means of clearing it up.
You, of all people, ought to take an interest in him. How constant and
devoted he is to our daughter: from the first time he met her at
Calcutta he admired her: nothing could be more tender or delicate than
were his attentions to her when we were in his power. She has since
made him the most ungrateful return. Her coldness, and the scornful way
in which she treated him, was enough to drive any man away unless he was
truly and sincerely attached. You tell me she does not and cannot love
him. All nonsense. It is a daughter's duty to set her affections where
her father desires. I have my reasons. That is sufficient. You speak
of that young English lieutenant. He is a fine-looking fellow--granted.
But what else is he? The son of a boatswain--not holding the rank of a
gentleman. He has himself risen from before the mast. He is said to be
held in estimation in his own service--granted; but he certainly,
according to my idea, showe