lves when no boats appeared; but as the
various merchantmen, one after the other, were attacked by the boats of
the squadron, they sallied bravely out, and endeavoured to drive back
their assailants. In vain, however, they made the attempt; the British
seamen persevered, and before the evening every vessel in the harbour
was destroyed.

Not a moment had honest True Blue been idle, from the time that the
boats had been first sent away till dark; nor had he had an opportunity
of inquiring after the second lieutenant. At length the surgeon came on
deck to take a breath of fresh air. True Blue stepped up to him, and,
touching his hat, inquired after Sir Henry.

"Hurt very badly, my lad," answered the surgeon, "and, I am very much
afraid, will slip through our fingers; but do not let that vex you. He
has told me of the gallant way in which you brought him off from the
enemy; and his great anxiety seems to be, that your interest should be
cared for--that you should be rewarded."

"Rewarded, sir!" exclaimed True Blue in a tone of indignation and
sorrow. "Oh, sir, I don't want any reward. Sir Henry knows that I
would go through fire and water to serve him, that I would sooner have
lost my own right arm or my life than that he should be hurt. Do tell
him, sir, that I am unhappy when I hear about a reward. I shall be
joyful, indeed, if he gets round again, and be able to go to his duty."

"All right, my lad, I will tell him; and I hope he may recover, and
settle the matter with you in your own way."

"I hope so, sir--I hope so," said True Blue; but he felt very sad about
what he had heard.

This conversation took place during a short cessation of firing, when,
for some reason not ascertained, the French troops retreated. They now
came back with more field-pieces, and opened on the ships. Happily the
ebb just then made, and a light breeze sprang up and blew down the
harbour. A fire was kept up from the ships, however, all the time,
while their anchors were weighed, and their topsails being sheeted home,
they stood out of the harbour. Still the shot followed them. They had
got some way when True Blue felt himself struck to the deck. He lay
some little time before being observed in the dark, and then he was
carried below. He knew no more, till he heard a voice in a tone of deep
grief saying, "Oh, doctor, is he killed?"

It was that of Paul Pringle.

"I hope not, boatswain," was the answer. "I have extracted