ship ever got off again. Oh, thank the Lord, mates, thank the Lord, for

his mercy endureth forever! The other froggy is stuck hard and fast, and

our lads will just fetch out in time."

Old Navy-Mike had made no mistake. The consort of the captured frigate,

a corvette of twenty-four guns, had boldly stood on with the intention

of rounding to the wind, crossing the bows of the other twain, and

retrieving the fortunes of the day perhaps, by a broadside into the

shattered upper works of the terribly hampered British ship. The idea

was clever and spirited, and had a very fair chance of success; but

the land below the sea forefended it. Full of fine ardour and the noble

thirst for fame, speeding on for the palm of high enterprise and the

glory of the native land, alas, they stuck fast in a soft bit of English

sand! It was in their power now to swear by all they disbelieved in,

and in everything visible and too tangible; but their power was limited

strictly to that; and the faster they swore, the faster they were bound

to stick.

Springhaven dined well, with its enemy so placed, and a message from

the Leda by Jem Prater, that the fishing fleet was rescued, and would

be home to early supper, and so much to be talked about all dinner-time,

that for once in his life nearly everybody found it more expedient to

eat with his fork than his knife. Then all who could be spared from

washing up, and getting ready for further cookery, went duly to church

in the afternoon, to hear the good rector return humble thanks for a

Gracious Mercy to the British arms, and to see a young man, who had

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