ned from Calcutta to
England. The French commander was naturally very anxious to take so
valuable a cargo safely to Toulon.

A further triumph fell to the lot of the French. The British gunboat,
flying the tricolour in place of the Union Jack, was brought back to the
scene of action by the Forbin. All four French ships accompanied the two
captive vessels on the voyage to Toulon--full steam ahead.

XXIV

THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALEDONIA

The passengers of the Caledonia were in a state of hopeless dejection
and violent exasperation. An attempt was made to throw the blame of
their misfortune on the unpardonable carelessness of the responsible
military authorities, rather than attribute it to an accident that could
not have been reckoned upon.

"Here we have another striking example of English lack of foresight,"
said Mr. Kennedy. "The idea of allowing the Caledonia to travel without
protection! Think of all the men-of-war lying idle at Bombay, Aden, and
Port Said! And yet nobody thought there was any occasion to send one
or more of them to escort this splendid ship, with nearly a thousand
Englishmen on board, and a cargo worth more than a million. Had our
commanders no suspicion that the French ships were so near?"

"Our commanders relied upon there being enough English ships cruising in
the Mediterranean to prevent such enterprises," said the General.

But this excuse was not accepted, and bitter were the reproaches hurled
at the English way of managing the war. When night came on the majority
of the passengers, utterly exhausted by the exciting events they had
gone through, retired to their cabins. But Heideck remained on deck for
some time, cooling his heated forehead in the delightful night breeze.
The squadron quickly pursued its course through the gently rushing
waves, the position of each ship being clearly defined by the
sidelights. On the right was the Chanzy, on the left the Arethuse, in
the rear the Forbin and the O'Hara, manned by a French crew. Nothing
could be seen of the destroyer. At length Heideck, tired of hearing the
regular steps of the French sentries pacing up and down the deck, went
down to his cabin. He was soon asleep, but his rest was broken by uneasy
dreams. The battle, of which he had been a spectator, was fought again.
His dreams must have been very vivid, for he thought he heard, without
cessation, the dull roar of the guns. He rubbed his eyes and sat up in
his narrow berth. Was