disappointment. Tim Fid had the lookout one morning at daybreak. Those
asleep were roused up by his voice shouting, "A sail! a sail!--not three
miles to windward of us. We must be seen. Hurrah!"

Paul crawled on deck and took a look at the stranger, a large brig with
taut masts and square yards. "Yes, Tim, there is a sail," he said
slowly. "She is either a man-of-war or a privateer; but from the cut of
her sails, she is French. For my part, I would sooner remain on the
wreck than be shut up in a French prison."

All hands expressed the same opinion; but how to avoid being compelled
to go on board the brig was the question. The stranger soon espied the
schooner and bore down upon her. Paul eyed the approaching brig with
anything but looks of affection, when, as she drew near, who should be
seen on the poop but Sir Henry Elmore and Mr Nott, while forward were
several of the _Gannet's_ crew.

She hove to; a boat was sent on board, which conveyed Paul to the brig.
All that had occurred was soon explained. The brig was a privateer,
captured after a smart action, and Sir Henry had been put in charge to
carry her to Jamaica. He now took the prize in tow, and sent some fresh
hands on board to relieve those who had suffered so much in her.

In four days they arrived at Port Royal; and Paul and his companions
obtained the greatest credit for the way in which they had fought one
privateer and preserved their own prize from destruction.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

The brig which had been captured by the _Gannet_ was a fine new vessel,
mounting sixteen guns, and almost a match for the _Gannet_ herself. Mr
Digby, the first lieutenant of the corvette, had been so severely
wounded that he was compelled to go home invalided. Sir Henry Elmore
had much distinguished himself; and the Admiral on the Jamaica station,
who wished to promote him, gave him an acting order as commander of the
prize, which, under the name of the _Rover_ was added to the Navy. As
soon as Sir Henry had commissioned the brig, he sent for True Blue.

"Freeborn," he said, "I think that I can at once obtain an appointment
for you which will suit your wishes. If you will accept it, I will get
the Admiral to give you an acting order as boatswain of the _Rover_, and
you can then take out your warrant as soon as you reach England for a
still higher rate. What do you say?"

The look of intense satisfaction which lighted up True Blue's
countenance ass