shut up in prison, though treated all the time with every
consideration. On the morning they were to have been carried up to
London, it was found that the whole of the trapped birds had escaped,
with exception of the stout lieutenant, who had a wounded leg, but had
been so fast asleep that he had not the slightest conception of what had
occurred.

"We shall meet again, my friend, some day," said Commodore Benbow when
he heard of it.

They did meet, for the Commodore was employed for several years
afterwards in blockading Dunkerque. The Frenchman frequently,
notwithstanding, managed to get out, and commit no small amount of
damage on English shipping; in truth, he fully merited the name he
obtained among his countrymen.

Benbow, now an Admiral, was frequently sent to the West Indies, when he
beat the enemy, and did much for English commerce. He set out on his
last expedition in September 1701, accompanied by his old and faithful
follower, Roger Willoughby. The manner in which several of his captains
cowardly betrayed him when he had the French in his power, is too well
known to be repeated. The French Admiral, Du Casse, though fully
expecting to be captured, for he was well aware of the cause, wrote to
Admiral Benbow a pithy letter, saying that he had indeed thought that
night to have supped in the Englishman's cabin, but as he had escaped
through the cowardice of some of his enemy's captains, he advised him to
hang them up forthwith. The Admiral, being badly wounded during the
fierce engagement which took place, directed himself to be placed in a
cradle while he remained on deck directing the operations till the
battle was over, when the fleet returned to Jamaica. Roger Willoughby
remained by his beloved chief during the court-martial which sat upon
the pusillanimous captains, and for a month afterwards, when the Admiral
sank under his wounds. After the Admiral's death, Roger Willoughby
returned to England, and among the first items of news he heard was that
the brave French Admiral, who had been born the same day as Benbow, had
also paid the debt of Nature. After this he served his country nobly
for several years, when at length, returning to Eversden Manor, he took
up his abode there, his father and uncle being dead, and Madam Pauline,
who had a life-interest in it, being its sole occupant.

Although the times of Benbow present subjects of great interest to those
who are fond of historical tales, the aut