Some time more passed by. The French gunnery may not have been very good. Still the _Champion_ sailed on, not a mast nor a spar knocked away, though her canvas was riddled with shot. Should she be disabled, it was pretty evident that several of the merchantmen must be captured, and that the _Ouzel Galley_, crippled as she was, would be among the number. The proceedings of the _Champion_ and the enemy were therefore watched with intense anxiety. "There goes her main-topmast," cried Owen, almost with a groan. "I ought to be on board," said Lieutenant Foley. "I must ask for one of your boats, Captain Massey." "You should be welcome, but not one of them can swim, nor could I spare you any of my hands; so I am afraid, sir, you must be content to remain on board the _Ouzel Galley_," answered Owen. "Your presence could not change the fate of the day, and you would be made a prisoner by the French, instead of having a chance of escaping." The fire of the enemy now became hotter than ever, when Gerald, who had gone aloft, shouted, "Two ships in sight to the northward!" "What are they like?" asked Owen. "One looks to me as if one were under jury-masts; the other's all ataunto," answered Gerald. "I trust so," ejaculated Owen; "if so, they must be the _Thisbe_ and _Druid_." Lieutenant Foley immediately joined the midshipman at the mast-head, carrying his spy-glass. "I have no doubt that they are friends," he shouted, after inspecting them narrowly; "the enemy have made them out, and are signalling each other." The eyes of many on board the merchant fleet were turned in the direction of the two ships, which in a short time could be descried from the deck. Shouts arose from many a throat when the Frenchmen were seen, having hauled to the wind, standing back up the bay; while the gallant little _Champion_ continued her course after the convoy she had so bravely defended. The frigates, instead of following her, stood into the bay in pursuit of the Frenchmen. At nightfall, however, they were again descried running out, having apparently either missed the vessels they were in chase of, or found that the latter had got into harbour for shelter. The convoy now stood on till the end of Jamaica was rounded.