"Oh, I do hope we shall thrash that fellow," he exclaimed, "big as he looks. I am glad our father didn't determine to give in without fighting. It wouldn't have been like him if he had, though the second mate advised him to do so. I should have thought Mr Carnegan was full of pluck, but he appeared to me to show the white feather, and I'm not at all sure how he'll behave--not that it much matters, for I am very certain that Owen will make the men stand to their guns as long as there's a shot in the locker." "I only hope that we may avoid fighting altogether," said Norah. "Owen thought it possible that an English man-of-war might appear in sight and put the enemy to flight, or that we may keep ahead till nightfall, and then manage to escape." "Depend upon it, the Frenchman is coming up much too fast to give us any chance of keeping ahead till dark--we must not expect that. I have more confidence in our knocking away some of his spars; Owen is a first-rate shot, and if it can be done he'll do it. Don't be cast down, Norah; it would never have done for you to remain where you might have run the risk of being hit. Our father was right in sending you here, though I wish he had allowed me to stay on deck--but then, you see, you couldn't be left alone; and if, after all, the Frenchmen do take us, why, there would have been no one to protect you. That consoles me for remaining here, and if the worst happens I'll fight for you. See, I've brought a cutlass, and a brace of pistols, and it would be a hard matter for any one to get in here without my leave." "Oh, it would be dreadful!" cried Norah, shuddering at the thought of the ship being captured--for she could not conceal from herself that such might too probably be the case. "Don't attempt to fight if any of our enemies should find their way down here--it would be utterly useless, and only exasperate them." "Well, perhaps they won't find their way down here," said Gerald, who directly he had uttered anything calculated to alarm his sister was anxious to remedy the mistake; "let us try and talk of something else, and wait patiently for what may happen." The proposal was not as easily carried out as made; in another minute Gerald was again talking of what might or might not occur. Some time went by. "Hark! hark! what is that?" exclaimed Norah suddenly, as the boom of a gun, which from its faintness showed that it must have been fired at a distance, reached their ears. "There comes the first shot, but it didn't strike us--the Frenchman is trying whether he has got us within range," said Gerald. "It shows, though, that the enemy must be very near," cried Norah. "It will be the sooner over," said Gerald. "We shall hear our guns go off soon--they'll make a much greater noise; but don't be frightened, Norah dear--they, at all events, will not injure you."