ack to the boat, and
once more making sail, stood out of the harbour. The wind, however,
shifting shortly afterwards, we made a stretch out to sea, thinking to
fetch Carthagena the next tack, when, suddenly, it again shifted, and
blew directly off the land; not a foot would the boat sail to windward,
and as to pulling against it, that was more than we could do. When
daylight broke, we found ourselves five or six miles off the shore, and
drifting farther and farther away. Mr Desmond was in a great taking at
not getting back to the shore; we lowered our sail, and I took to the
oars, but it was all of no use. There was a good deal of sea on, and we
did not even hold our own. The sea-breeze was longer than usual coming,
and it was pretty well mid-day already. We had nothing to eat or drink
since our supper in the prison. All we could hope was that the consul
would get back and help our friends. At last it fell a dead calm; we
then got the oars out again, and were about to pull back when we heard
guns in the offing, and I guessed that they must be fired by the ship of
war the consul had told us of. Mr Desmond thought I was right, and we
agreed that we should serve our friends better by pulling off towards
her. We had a long pull as you know, sir, and I am thankful that I was
right; and I am certain it won't be Mr Murray's fault if he don't give
the Dons a lesson which will teach them not to play tricks with
Englishmen in future."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

PREPARED FOR ACTION--A MESSAGE SENT TO THE CARTHAGENAN COMMODORE--HIS
CONTEMPTUOUS REPLY--THE SUPPLEJACK BRINGS THE CORVETTE TO ACTION AND
TAKES HER--SINKS A BRIG AND CAPTURES THREE SCHOONERS--MURRAY VISITS THE
CARTHAGENAN GENERAL, AND DEMANDS THE LIBERATION OF THE PRISONERS--AN
OMINOUS REPLY.

The boats were manned, and every preparation made for the intended
expedition. The danger was great, but Lieutenant Murray determined to
risk everything for the sake of the object. Even had he not been deeply
interested, he would not have allowed the insult to the British flag to
pass unquestioned. His small crew were in high spirits, determined to
dare and do everything to rescue the young lady and the midshipmen.
They, at all events, the Carthagenans had no right to detain whatever
might have been the case with regard to the colonel, and the officers
and the crews of the merchant vessels.

Just then some cat's-paws were seen playing over the mirror-like surface
of t