e his hair.

"The rogues, the villains, the scoundrels, to desert me thus!" he
exclaimed. "To take advantage of me when they saw that I could not
pursue them. Who is one to trust in this world? My curses go with you,
you knaves!" he shouted, shaking his fist at the far-distant vessel.
"Ha! it is some satisfaction to know that none of you know anything of
navigation, and that you will cast yourselves away to a certainty. May
every one of you be food for the fish before many days are over!"

No one pitied the old pirate, and he was allowed to rave on without
interference.

The frigate tore through the water--the breeze was freshening. This was
all in her favour. Still the British ships were coming up fast; the
leading frigate began to fire her bow chasers, but the shot fell short.
She waited for some time. One fortunate shot, and the Frenchman would
be her prize. The forts on the island of Oleron could now be seen
clearly with the naked eye. The English frigate drew still nearer.
Captain Gerardin judged that she was nearly within gunshot. "Ladies,
this quarter-deck is no longer a place for you," he said, addressing
Edda and her mother, and the Spanish young lady. "I regret to drive you
from it, but I must use the authority of a captain, and order you
below."

Mrs Armytage and her daughter saw that he was in earnest, and prepared
to obey. A shot which whistled close over the quarter showed the wisdom
of his order.

"Oh, but my father--my father! will he not come?" exclaimed the daughter
of the marquis in the most bitter anguish.

"Your father will do as he thinks fit, Donna Julia," said the captain.
"I only exert my influence where ladies are concerned. Spain is at
present united to England. He cannot be called on to fight."

"And you, Captain Alvarez, you are a Spaniard. Why unite with the
enemies of Spain?"

"Spain disinherited me," he answered, turning away. "But, ladies,
hasten below, there is no time to be lost."

Another shot came whistling by, and cut short all further conversation.

The captain now ordered a couple of long brass guns to be run out aft to
return the compliment the English were paying him. They were served
well, and the nearer the enemy approached, the more effective they
became. At length a shot struck the taffrail, and glancing along the
bulwarks, sent the splinters flying about the deck. The marquis turned
pale.

"It is my duty to go and look after the safety of my