"Keep your mind easy about Flora," laughed Tom. "I'm going to win all the honour and glory she is likely to want." "I'd quite forgotten, Tom--brother." "That's better. And, Jack, I know you'll get more ambitious as we go on. Now mind you, you're not so badly off. That wound was a lucky hit. Just look around and beneath you. Ever see a finer frigate? Look at her build, her spars, her rigging, everything taut and trim and ship-shape--the very ship seems proud of herself, considering the independent way she goes swinging over the waves on the wings of this delightful breeze; swinging over the waves, bobbing and bowing to them as if they were mere passing acquaintances, and she proud mistress of the seas. Then, Jack, let me recall your attention to the fact that we have five-and-forty bonnie black guns and three hundred and twenty bold blue-jackets to man and to fight them; and that _you_--you lucky dog--are monarch of all you survey. Ah, brother mine, there is many a sailor mo'sieur afloat on the seas at this moment 'twixt here and America who well might tremble did he but know the fate that is in store for him when the _Tonneraire_ crosses his hawse." "You bloodthirsty man!" "No, no, no. I've got one of the softest hearts ever turned out of dock, but it is all for king and country, you know. Behold how our good ship goes sweeping through the deep! Look, my captain bold, we are coming up to the convoy hand-over-hand. It was a good idea giving them half a day's start, for some of them, I daresay, we'll find are lazy lubbers." "Well," said Jack, as we shall still call him, "we must do our best to keep them together. I would not like, however, for my own part, to go out in protection of many convoys." "Nor will we; this is only a kind of trial trip. But if you are afraid you won't have any fighting to do, you may be agreeably disappointed, as the Irishman said." Jack Mackenzie laughed. "What a fire-eater you are, Tom! I wasn't thinking of fighting. But if I have to fight, I'd rather these merchantmen were a hundred miles away. Fighting in convoy must make one feel as does the father of a family, whom he has to defend against an aggressor while the children cling tightly to his legs." From the above conversation it will be gathered that the _Tonneraire_ had sailed at last, and was in charge of a merchant fleet bound for America. This was considered a very responsible task in these warlike days, when the cruisers of the enemy were here, there, and everywhere in our ocean highways, watching a chance to seize our unprotected ships. The _Tonneraire_ had been chosen for her strength and her fleetness, and there was no doubt that under so able a young and dashing commander she would fulfil her mission, and make it warm for any Frenchman who sought to attack the ships.