ARRIVAL OF THE CHAMPION--MR. FERRIS GOES ON BOARD--BRINGS BACK LIEUTENANT FOLEY WOUNDED--GERALD JOINS THE CHAMPION AS MIDSHIPMAN--AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SHIPMATES--THE CHAMPION SAILS--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT HOME--THE OUZEL GALLEY PREPARING FOR SEA--RETURN OF THE CHAMPION--SAILS AGAIN--OWEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--MR. FERRIS AND ELLEN GO TO DUBLIN--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--NORAH'S LIFE AT HOME--MR. FERRIS INTENDS TO GO TO JAMAICA--THE OUZEL GALLEY COMES BACK, AND CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO ROUND IN HER TO DUBLIN. "News, Norah! I bring you news, Miss Ellen," cried Gerald, rushing into the drawing-room where his sister and her friend were seated. "I have just heard that a man-of-war has brought up inside the harbour, with her main-topmast gone and her sails riddled with shot. They say that she is the _Champion_, and that she has had a desperate action with a French ship, which she sent to the bottom, or which got away from her. Which was the case, I can't exactly make out, but she has lost I don't know how many officers and seamen, for there hasn't been such a bloody fight since the war began. The wounded, I hear, are to be sent on shore, and we shall thus, I suppose, know all about the matter." Ellen turned pale as Gerald was speaking. "Have you heard who the killed and wounded are?" she asked, in a trembling voice. "No; I could only learn the name of the ship, and that there has been a sharp action there can be no doubt," answered Gerald. "Perhaps Gerald's account is exaggerated," remarked Norah, observing Ellen's agitation. "If the ship is the _Champion_, Mr Ferris is sure to go down and visit her; he will ascertain the truth of the report." "I must--I must go and tell him what has happened, in case he should not have heard it," said Ellen, rising. She found Mr Ferris in his counting-house, on the ground-floor. He immediately ordered his boat, and telling Ellen that, should he find any wounded officers who might require to be cared for on shore, he would bring them up, he desired her to make preparations for their reception. Gerald, who was on the look-out for him, begged that he might accompany him on board. The boat, with six stout hands, rapidly made her way down the river. Ellen and Norah, like good housewives, lost no time in seeing the spare rooms got ready for their expected guests. The occupation tended to relieve Ellen's mind. "Perhaps, after all, there may be no wounded officers," said Norah. "Gerald's account was very vague--people nearly always exaggerate disasters." "But I saw the beginning of the battle, and heard the dreadful guns firing--and some of those on board may have been killed," said Ellen, scarcely able to restrain her feelings. The young ladies had some time to wait after the rooms had been got ready. Ellen was constantly going to the window, from which she could see the river and watch for the return of the boat. Norah, like a faithful friend, did not quit her.