r was. Her own colours
could not be seen; but, to make sure, Mr Nott first hoisted a French
flag. No notice was taken of this. Then he hoisted the English ensign
over the French, and immediately the stranger yawed and fired a
bow-chaser.

"You'd think it well to mystify them a little, sir," observed Paul. "We
should do that if we hoisted the French flag over the English."

This was done, and for some time no other shot was fired. Still the
stranger seemed to be not altogether satisfied. The breeze was
freshening all this time, and at length it became evident that the brig
was carrying much more canvas than was necessary, unless she was trying
to get away from the schooner. The stranger seemed to think so, at all
events, and without yawing fired a shot as a signal to the chase to
heave-to.

This was what no one but the prisoners had the slightest wish to do; and
so, as it was now getting dark, both flags were hauled down and not
again hoisted.

"Now, Billy," said Paul, "let us see, my boy, what you can do."

True Blue was in his glory. He had a gun almost entirely to himself.
Tim Fid acted the part of powder-monkey; while he and Hartland had
charge of one gun, and Mr Nott, helped by Paul, worked the other.
Paul, indeed, stepped from gun to gun as his services were required.
Now they set to work in right earnest and began to blaze away as hard as
they could, while Tom Marline stood at the helm and steered the flying
brig. He had no easy work either, for, with the immense press of canvas
she had on her and the strong breeze, it was with difficulty he could
keep her on her course.

True Blue was delighted to find that his shot, at all events, reached
the enemy.

"Paul, Paul, that shot hit her bows--I saw the splinters fly from them!"
he exclaimed while he and Harry were again loading.

"All right," answered Paul, who likewise saw the effect of the shot.
"Keep on like that, and you'll soon bring down some of the chap's
spars."

Meantime, Mr Nott was working away manfully with his gun. He felt
rather vexed to think that a ship's boy was a better shot than himself;
only just then, as he wished to preserve the brig, he was thankful to
any one who could aid in accomplishing that object. Now and then the
schooner fired; but as at each time, in order to do so, she had to yaw
and then keep away, she fired much less frequently than the brig. The
Frenchmen probably also judged that, as they were rapidly coming