a hand, shipmates," cried Ben, "on yer port bow."

The oars were dipped at once, the boat ranged up, and the two men were
assisted into it.

"It's all well as ends well, as I've heerd the play-actors say,"
observed Ben Bolter, as he shook the water from his garments. "I say,
lads, what ship do you belong to?"

"Ve has de honair to b'long to _Le Guillaume Tell_," replied one of the
men.

"Hallo, Bill!" whispered Ben, "it's a French boat, an' we're nabbed.
Prisoners o' war, as sure as my name's BB! Wot's to be done?"

"I'll make a bolt, sink or swim," whispered our hero.

"You vill sit still," said the man who had already spoken to them,
laying a hand on Bill's shoulder.

Bill jumped up and made a desperate attempt to leap overboard, but two
men seized him. Ben sprang to the rescue instantly, but he also was
overpowered by numbers, and the hands of both were tied behind their
backs. A few minutes later and they were handed up the side of the
French ship.

When day broke on the morning of the 2nd of August, the firing still
continued, but it was comparatively feeble, for nearly every ship of the
French fleet had been taken. Only the _Guillaume Tell_ and the
_Genereux_--the two rear ships of the enemy--had their colours flying.

These, with two frigates, cut their cables and stood out to sea. The
_Zealous_ pursued, but as there was no other British ship in a fit state
to support her, she was recalled; the four vessels, therefore, escaped
at that time, but they were captured not long afterwards. Thus ended
the famous battle of the Nile, in regard to which Nelson said that it
was a "conquest" rather than a victory.

Of thirteen sail of the line, nine were taken and two burnt; and two of
their four frigates were burnt. The British loss in killed and wounded
amounted to 896; that of the French was estimated at 2000.

The victory was most complete. The French fleet was annihilated. As
might be supposed, the hero of the Nile was, after this, almost
worshipped as a demigod. It is worthy of remark here that Nelson, as
soon as the conquest was completed, sent orders through the fleet that
thanksgiving should be returned, in every ship, to Almighty God, for the
victory with which He had blessed His Majesty's arms.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

OUR HERO AND HIS MESSMATE GET INTO TROUBLE.

On the night after the battle, Bill Bowls and Ben Bolter were sent on
board a French transport ship.

As they sat beside each