"Allow me to
congratulate you, sir, on your good fortune, as you will yourself
acknowledge it to be, when you find out what an addition they will be to
your ship's company."

"I am indebted to you for your interference, sir," replied Captain M---,
"and shall not prove ungrateful. Your conduct in this affair makes me
inclined to ask another favour. I believe you can give me some valuable
information, if you choose. Whether you are inclined to do so, I am not
yet sure; but I now think that you will."

"You will find me an Englishman, body and soul, sir and although I have,
in defence of my profession, been occasionally necessitated to choose
between capture and resistance, I can most conscientiously say, that
every shot I have fired against my own countrymen has smitten me to the
heart;" (and this assertion was true, although we have no time to
analyse McElvina's feelings at present). "I am not bound by honour, nor
have I the least inclination, to conceal any information I may have
obtained, when in the French ports. I went there to serve my purposes,
and they allowed me to do so to serve their own. I never would
(although repeatedly offered bribes) bring them any information relative
to the proceedings of our own country, and I shall most cheerfully
answer your questions; indeed, I have information which I would have
given you before now, had I not felt that it might be supposed I was
actuated more by a view of serving myself than my country. I only wish,
Captain M---, that you may fall in with a French frigate before I leave
your ship, that I may prove to you that I can fight as well for old
England as I have done in defence of property entrusted to my charge."

"Then do me the favour to step down into the cabin," said Captain M---.

Captain M--- and McElvina were shut up in the after-cabin for some time;
and the information received by Captain M--- was so important, that he
determined not to anchor. He put all the French prisoners on board of
the lugger at the entrance of the Sound, and, sending in a boat to take
out the major part of the men who had charge of her, he retained
McElvina on board of the frigate, and made all sail for the French
coast.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

That which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have.
SHAKESPEARE.

But we must return on shore, that we may not lose sight of the
grandfather of our hero, who had no i