nd,
with a blow on the chest of the man who was about to drag him along,
sent him reeling across the deck. Tim Fid and Harry, who had been left
at liberty, on this flew to his support, and, standing on either side,
literally kept the rest at bay.

True Blue said not a word, but his lips quivered, and, had he held a
sharp cutlass in his hand, he would evidently have proved no
contemptible opponent.

At first the Frenchmen were amused, and so were a number of the French
boys belonging to the ship, who quickly assembled at the spot,
especially devoting their attention to jeering and quizzing Fid and
Harry.

Their good humour, however, was rapidly vanishing, and they would have
probably proceeded to disagreeable extremities had not the surgeon of
the ship appeared on the deck. He was a gentleman and a royalist, and
had been most unwillingly compelled to come to sea as the alternative of
losing his head. His profession gave him some influence among the crew,
which he exerted on the side of humanity. Seeing at a glance Paul's
condition, he appealed to his countrymen, remarking that the Englishman
must evidently be a good-natured person, or the boys would not be so
ready to fight for him.

"Brave little fellows! They deserve to be well treated," he remarked.
"And now do some of you help me to carry the old man below. He is not
in a state to be left on deck. Any one of us, remember, may speedily be
in a worse condition."

This appeal had the desired effect, and, the kind surgeon leading the
way, Paul was lifted up and carried below to a side cabin on the
orlop-deck. True Blue was allowed to remain with him.

The mode of proceeding on board the frigate seemed to True Blue like
that of the very slackest of privateers; indeed, when he described what
he saw to his godfather, Paul told him that even pirates could not carry
on in a worse way.

Before long several of the crew looked in and attempted to speak
English, but very seldom got beyond a few of the ordinary oaths so
general in the mouths of seamen. At length a man appeared who had been
in England as a prisoner during the last war, and could really speak
enough English to explain himself. He asked them a number of questions,
which either Paul or True Blue answered truly.

"And so," he said, "I hear from my compatriot that you belonged to the
_Ruby_ frigate. Ah! she was a fine ship, and her crew were brave
fellows--they fought well. You have heard of her f