At length the British Admiral found it necessary to evacuate Toulon, and then a scene of indescribable confusion and dismay took place, for the unfortunate Royalists well knew the fate that awaited them from the savage Commissioners of the Republic, and that monster, the deputy Carrier. Madame Volney, her two daughters, and Mabel were received on board the Robust, whilst nearly four hundred fugitives were taken on board the Princess Royal, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Goodall. The important service of destroying the ships and magazines was entrusted to Captain Sir Sidney Smith. Our hero and Charles Pole, who accompanied him in the Swallow tender, prepared to attend upon Sir Sidney in his fearfully dangerous expedition. It was now the month of December, the weather wild and stormy, the wind north-west and extremely cold. Sir Sidney, attended by the Swallow, three Spanish and three English gun-boats—one commanded by Lieutenant O’Loughlin, proceeded to the arsenal to prepare whatever combustible materials were required for the work of devastation he was bent upon. By this time the dockyards had substituted the tricolour for the white cockade. “By Jove, William,” said Charles Pole, “they have turned loose all the galley slaves, and they say there are eight hundred of them; they seem inclined to commence hostilities. Those gentlemen, I suppose, now consider themselves worthy citizens of regenerated France.” “We’ll soon show them, Charley, my boy, a sight that will rapidly develop their ideas of liberty and equality;” and forthwith he placed the little tender in a position so that her guns could completely command those on shore. Lieutenant O’Loughlin did the same with his gun-boat. This proceeding awed the turbulent galley slaves. Whilst performing this manœuvre, the two boats were exposed to the shots and shells fired from the fort and the neighbouring hills, which Charles Pole declared was throwing a light upon the affair. Now and then the Republicans, posted in the houses, opened fire upon Sir Sidney’s party, busy at their operations, which induced our hero to try the effect of one of his guns pointed at the upper storey of a house, the inhabitants of which had been remarkably civil and liberal with their shots. The ball went crashing through the wall, knocking the bricks and mortar in a shower into their faces. This dispersed them in double quick time; but as the shades of night rapidly concealed the movements of those on shore, hundreds came down from the hills, and commenced rapid discharges of musketry. “Come, my lads,” said the Swallow’s commander, “they are getting ready; just give them a dose of grape.” “Ay, ay, sir; we will pepper the rascals’ jackets,” said Bill Saunders, applying the match to a gun well pointed, which drove the assailants into the wildest confusion. “Well done, Swallow; go it, my lads!” was shouted from some of the party at work ashore; and then the cry arose, “Here’s the Vulcan!”