vessels, they might quickly be
sent to the bottom. The brig's boarding-nettings were also triced up, a
vigilant watch was kept, and pistols, pikes, and cutlasses placed in
readiness for immediate use to resist any attack which might be made on
her.

Murray, while he thus kept watch over the captured vessels, felt himself
in a delicate and trying position. The Carthagenan government had
hostages in their hands on whom they might wreak their vengeance. Had
they, indeed, known how dear one of the prisoners was to the young
commander, they would probably have made use of the advantage they
possessed. He felt sure that a bold course was the only safe one. He
might have led his crew on shore and endeavoured to rescue the captives,
but the attempt he knew would have been sheer madness, as a piece of
artillery at the end of one of the streets might have sent him and his
men to destruction. Murray, like a wise man, had retired to his cabin
to consider what was best to be done. He speedily made up his mind, and
sent for his second in command.

"Higson," he said, "I have resolved to go on shore myself, and demand
the release of the prisoners. I leave you in charge of the brig. Keep
an eye on the corvette and schooners, and sink them rather than allow
them to escape."

"You may depend on it that we will, sir," was the answer. "I only wish
that we could get our friends on board, that we might stand in and
batter their town about the ears of the rascals."

"They have had a pretty severe lesson already," said Murray, "and I have
hopes that they will not refuse to accede to my demands. Get the gig
ready, with an ensign and a flag of truce. There's no time to be lost."

Higson went on deck, and the gig's crew were piped away.

"I say, Higson, do ask the captain if I may accompany him, there's a
good fellow!" said Desmond. "Perhaps I may be of some use in getting
Miss O'Regan and our fellows out of the prison."

"I don't know how you'll do that," answered Higson.

"Nor do I," said Desmond; "but at all events I know the way into it, and
I think, if Mr Murray will take Needham as well, he and I would manage
somehow or other to get our friends out, if they are still in the room
in which we left them."

Murray, to Gerald's great satisfaction, consented to take him and
Needham. He had borrowed a new uniform from one of the midshipmen on
board, and no one was likely to recognise him, so different did he look
from what