“A blackamoor, eh,” said the man, thoughtfully. “Now let me see! Oh, yes! I remember. He was taken on board when we stopped in the harbor near St. Mary’s Isle not so long ago. We kept him safely guarded and ironed, sir, for it was said that he was an important prisoner; but on our second day at Carrickfergus he gave us the slip, somehow, and none of us have seen anything of him since.” CHAPTER XVII THE SECRET AGENT ONCE MORE Lieutenant Simpson, as first officer of the Ranger, was placed in command of the Drake, and that vessel was taken in tow and the American man-of-war sailed in quest of more prizes along the Irish coast and then toward Brest. Sighting a sail, one day, Captain Jones cut the Drake loose after instructing his first officer to make the best of his way into Brest. But Simpson, true to his instincts, changed his course to southward and Paul Jones was compelled to give up the pursuit of several promising prizes in order that he might come up with the captured frigate. Incensed beyond measure by the insolence of Simpson, he placed the man under arrest, and the command of the Drake was given to Lieutenant Hall, who finally took her into port. When they reached France once more they discovered that a treaty of alliance between the colonies and that kingdom had been signed. The American ministers had been received at the French court; the French ambassador had left London, and the English envoy, Lord Stormont, had departed from France. War was on between these two great European powers, and in the heat of that great struggle the colonies at last had a chance to be free. Once again Paul Jones, Ethan Carlyle and Longsword rode to Paris to consult with Dr. Franklin. They were warmly greeted by the sage, and he listened to their experiences with interest and appreciation. “Captain Jones,” he said at the conclusion, “there is nothing in the gift of your country too great for your deserving. In the name of the colonies, I thank you.” “I suppose,” remarked Ethan, after a time, “that the lost dispatch is now valueless, seeing that the alliance has already been accomplished.” “On the contrary,” said Dr. Franklin, “it is now more important that it should be recovered than ever. I have communicated with Congress, and a duplicate of the dispatch has been sent me; it was by means of its contents that this treaty has been effected. But were the facts contained in the dispatch to come, even now, under the eyes of Lord North, such pressure would be brought upon France that she would drop all connection with us at once and again make a peace with England. Indeed, the fact that the information is in the way of being discovered, were the French aware of it, might be fatal. The dispatch must be recovered at all hazards.” As they sat in their lodgings that night Ethan told Longsword of this: and the Irish dragoon wrinkled his brow and looked infinitely wise.