treated him as a
friend.

"No," replied Owen; "for this frigate sails very fast, and from what I
hear, Captain Stanhope is not likely to let an enemy escape him if he
can help it."

"I feel somewhat strange at the thoughts of having round shot and
bullets flying about our ears," said Nat.

"We must run our chance along with the rest," answered Owen.

Mr Scoones, who had only come on deck that day for the first time, on
seeing that there was a prospect of a sharp engagement, seemed to wish
that he had kept below. After pacing up and down several times, he
spoke to the first lieutenant.

"As I have had some experience in dressing wounds, although, of course,
I should wish to see the fight on deck, I may be of assistance to the
doctor. With your leave I will go into the cock-pit and offer to help
him."

The first lieutenant looked at him hard, suspecting the reasons.

"You are a passenger, and we do not expect you to fight, so do as you
please," he answered.

Mr Scoones immediately dived below. The doctor, who had been arranging
the various instruments and dressings which he expected would be
required, received Mr Scoones coldly.

"You have not thought of bringing the two boys and the seaman saved with
you. They might like to escape the risk of being shot."

"They have entered as part of the ship's company, and must run their
chance," answered Mr Scoones.

"I thought as much," remarked the doctor, and continued his preparations
without further accepting the offer made him.

The "Sylvia" showed herself to be a fast craft as she rapidly gained on
the chase. As yet, however, the colours of the latter had not been
shown. It was possible, after all, that she might prove to be a friend.
All hands were on deck watching the chase. A loud cheer rose from the
crew as the French flag flew out from the stranger's peak. She had
tacked several times to keep the weather gauge, which it was Captain
Stanhope's wish to obtain. She was seen to be a frigate of the same
size as the "Sylvia," if not larger. The decks were now cleared for
action, and the drum beat to quarters. Owen found that he and the other
boys were to be employed in bringing up powder from the magazines in
flannel bags placed in buckets. They had then to sit on them until the
powder was wanted for loading the guns.

He would rather have been employed on some other duty, as he would thus
have seen what was going forward. Still he did not for a mo