deck. His great anxiety was
now to bring the marquis, Tacon, Father Mendez, and Pedro Alvarez
together before Colonel Armytage, that the whole chain of evidence might
be clearly exhibited to him. He was about to propose this to the
captain, when a gun was fired from the flag-ship, and the signal was
seen flying for the first lieutenants and four boats from every ship to
come alongside.

Hernan hurried off in obedience to orders. When he got on board the
flag-ship he found that a number of vessels which had been seen joining
the English fleet, then at anchor about six miles off, were supposed to
be fire-ships, and that an immediate attack from them was apprehended.

The fleet of boats was to be on the watch near the boom, to attack any
English boats which might approach, or to tow the fire-ships clear of
the men-of-war.

The night was of pitchy darkness when the flotilla of French boats
started on their perilous expedition. Long they watched, every moment
expecting to see the flames from the fire-ships bursting forth close to
them, or to be engaged in a deadly conflict with the English boats.

"Hark!" said Hernan to the midshipman by his side; "I hear the sound of
oars. Ah, there is a boat! What boat is that?" he asked, in a loud
voice.

Little did he dream who was in that boat, that his hated rival was
almost within his power. The French boats gave chase. There could be
but little doubt that the English boat had been in the midst of them.
Many a loud oath was sent after her, but she flew faster than they or
their oaths, and the flotilla returned discomfited to their stations at
the boom. Thus the night passed away. The general opinion was, that
after all they had little to fear from the threatened fire-ships.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

THE FRIGATE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE-SHIP--THE BURNING FRIGATE--
DANGER OF THE PASSENGERS--ESCAPE FROM THE BURNING SHIP--ON BOARD THE
"SCORPION"--LORD CLAYMORE ILL SUPPORTED--THE "SCORPION" SENT TO THE
NORTH SEA.

The night passed off without any attack on the French fleet from the
British fire-ships. Pedro Alvarez, or rather Captain Gerardin, offered
to land Colonel Armytage on his parole with his family and Donna Julia,
so that they might remain in a place of safety in case of threatened
danger; but the colonel, with his characteristic obstinacy, declined the
favour, saying that he felt himself in perfect safety on board the
frigate. It must be said that th