f, easily finding concealment in the dense
forest.

"I wish that Archy was here," cried Gerald, "he would have enjoyed the
fun."

Needham, with several other sailors, were with the midshipmen. Just
then they caught sight of a person trying to conceal himself behind a
tree. By his uniform they knew that he was an officer.

"We must have that fellow," cried Tom, dashing forward.

The officer, who had a sword in his hand, made a cut at Tom, which he
parried with his cutlass. The Nicaraguan then seeing several of his
enemies approaching, cried out for "quarter," and presented the hilt of
his sword.

"Come along," cried Tom, highly delighted, "you're my prisoner; no one
shall hurt you now;" and he and Gerald, who was close at hand, grasping
him by the arm, shouted to Needham and the rest to come and take charge
of him.

Just at that moment the bugle echoing through the forest, sounded the
"recall." The summons was heard by the fugitives with more satisfaction
probably than by the pursuers. The latter obeyed it, and bluejackets,
marines, and soldiers began to assemble from all directions in which the
flying enemy had led them.

Few prisoners only besides the officers had been taken, for the
thickness of the forest favoured the flight of the Nicaraguans. Here
and there the dead body of one of them was seen, shot in the pursuit, or
who had fallen down after being wounded in the fort.

The midshipmen were excessively proud of their capture, and Needham not
the less so at having the Nicaraguan flag to show as a trophy. At
length the greater number of the pursuers returned to the fort. The
remaining stragglers, who had been led by their ardour farther than the
rest, came in soon afterwards, and the whole being mustered, it was
found that not a man had been killed on shore and five only wounded.

Tom and Gerald now came up to the captain with their prisoner, and
received due commendation for their zeal. Needham followed with the
flag, which he had kept fast under his arm, and which he now produced in
due form; the captain having heard the particulars, did not fail to
promise that he should receive a reward for his bravery.

He then addressed the men, and expressed his satisfaction at the
gallantry and good discipline they had displayed. "We have still some
work to do, my lads, however, and the more quickly we set about it the
sooner we shall get out of this broiling spot, and have our wounded men
properly car