ow-chasers. She had good
reason to do so, for the Frenchman was steering to the southward and
land was ahead. One of the shot struck the counter of _La Ralieuse_,
the other passed a little on one side. True Blue gazed earnestly and
long at the English frigate. He was recalled in a disagreeable way to a
sense of where he was by feeling the point of a cutlass pressed against
his back, and, looking round, he saw a seaman with no pleasant looks
grinning at him and pointing below.

What the man said he could not make out. He got out of the fellow's way
and hurried below. "Paul, I am right!" he exclaimed. "She is either
the _Ruby_ or another frigate so like her that you couldn't tell one
from the other."

The next ten minutes were passed in a state of great anxiety, and when
True Blue again looked out, he reported that the Frenchmen were
shortening sail preparatory to commencing action. The crew were all at
their stations. An unusual silence reigned on board. The Captain was
making a speech. It was about liberty, equality, and fraternity, and
the _bonnet rouge_ was displayed.

The cheers were cut very short by a broadside from the English frigate,
the shot of which crashed through the Frenchman's sides, tore up the
planks, and carried off the heads of two or more of the cheerers.

"That was a right hearty English broadside!" exclaimed Paul. "I could
almost fancy I knew the sound of the shot. I wish that you and I were
with them, Billy, instead of being cooped up here."

The English had not the game all to themselves. The French almost
immediately replied with considerable spirit to the compliment they had
received.

"They are having a running fight of it--yardarm to yardarm, as far as I
can make out," said Paul. "Well, that's the right way to go about the
business. A brave fellow commands the English frigate, whatever she
is."

"She's no bigger than the Frenchman," said True Blue.

"Maybe not, Billy," observed Paul, lifting himself up on his elbow. "It
isn't the size of the ship--it's the men on board her makes the
difference. Depend on't, those in the ship alongside us are of the
right sort and properly commanded."

Presently there was a louder noise on deck than usual, and evident
confusion. True Blue could contain his curiosity no longer, and before
Paul could stop him, he had darted out of the berth.

"Heaven will guard him," said Paul to himself; "but he runs as great a
risk as any of thes