“We have been unlucky, Mr. Merry, but we need not despair--these lads have gotten together abundance of supplies, I see; and, with our arms, we can easily make ourselves masters of some of the enemy's smaller craft, and find our way back to the frigate, when this gale has blown itself out. We must keep ourselves close, though, or we shall have the redcoats coming down upon us, like so many sharks around a wreck. Ah! God bless her, Merry! There is not such a sight to be seen on the whole beach as two of her planks holding together.” The midshipman, without adverting to this sudden allusion to their vessel, prudently pursued the train of ideas in which his commander had started. “There is an opening into the country, but a short distance south of us, where a brook empties into the sea,” he said. “We might find a cover in it, or in the wood above, into which it leads, until we can have a survey of the coast, or can seize some vessel to carry us off.” “There would be a satisfaction in waiting till the morning watch, and then carrying that accursed battery, which took off the better leg of the poor Ariel!” said the lieutenant--“the thing might be done, boy, and we could hold the work, too, until the Alacrity and the frigate draw in to land.” “If you prefer storming works to boarding vessels, there is a fortress of stone, Mr. Barnstable, which lies directly on our beam. I could see it through the haze, when I was on the cliffs, stationing the lookout--and---- “And what, boy? speak without a fear; this is a time for free consultation.” “Why, sir, the garrison might not all be hostile--we should liberate Mr. Griffith and the marines; besides----” “Besides what, sir?” “I should have an opportunity, perhaps, of seeing my cousin Cecilia and my cousin Katherine.” The countenance of Barnstable grew animated as he listened, and he answered with something of his usual cheerful manner: “Ay, that, indeed, would be a work worth carrying! And the rescuing of our shipmates, and the marines, would read like a thing of military discretion--ha! boy! all the rest would be incidental, younker; like the capture of the fleet, after you have whipped the convoy.” “I do suppose, sir, that if the abbey be taken, Colonel Howard will own himself a prisoner of war.” “And Colonel Howard's wards! now there is good sense in this scheme of thine, Master Merry, and I will give it proper reflection. But here are our poor fellows; speak cheeringly to them, sir, that we may hold them in temper for our enterprise.”