saw clearly a
compass, and, moreover, that the brig was steering a course considerably
to the southward of east. The Frenchman then put his head up through
the fore-hatchway, took a look round, and then, again diving into the
forepeak, had another glance at the compass.

"That's it," thought Tim; "True Blue is right. The Frenchmen intend to
run us near their own coast and then rise on us, or they hope to fall in
with one of their own cruisers and be retaken. Small blame to them."

The thread of his soliloquy was interrupted by his observing the
Frenchman go to a chest on the opposite side, which, when opened, he saw
was full of arms, cutlasses, long knives, and pistols. The man sat down
by the side of it, and deliberately began to load one after the other,
and then to arrange the knives and dirks, so that they could in an
instant be drawn out for use.

"Ho, ho!" thought Tim; "that's your plan, is it? Two can play at that
game, we will show you!"

Fid was now very anxious to get out of his hiding-place, and to go and
tell True Blue what he had seen. The Frenchman, however, after he had
made all his arrangements, put a brace of pistols into his pocket and
stuck a dirk into his belt, concealed by his jacket, sat down on a
locker, and, with the greatest apparent unconcern, pursued his usual
occupation of bone-cutting.

Fid grew more and more impatient. He waited some time longer, then he
saw the man prick up his ears and listen eagerly. Presently there was
the sound of a scuffle on deck. The Frenchman sprang up the ladder
through the fore-hatch-way. As he did so a key fell from his pocket.
The moment he was gone, Fid jumped out of his hiding-place, picked up
the key, applied it to the chest which contained the arms--the lid flew
open. He drew out several brace of pistols and a bundle of dirks. He
stuck as many of both into his belt and pockets as he could carry, and
hid the others in the hammock in which he had been concealed, while the
key he also hid away. All was done as quick as lightning. Then, with a
pistol in one hand and a dirk in the other, he followed the Frenchman up
the hatchway.

As he did so he chanced to cast his eye aloft, when he saw True Blue in
the fore-rigging. He signed to him to come on deck. Billy saw him, and
slid down rapidly by the foretop-mast-stay. On looking aft they saw
Hartland and Mr Nott stretched on the deck, apparently lifeless, while
the three Frenchmen, with the b