III. PASSAGES FOE TEANSLATION INTO FEENCH

At sunrise the Canada was fast approaching the American warship which had beeu sighted, and Monsieur Pinson hoped that he would soon be able to change ships. After an interchange of greetings, in accordance with the usual maritime custom, the Canada was stopped, and au American officer came on board. When he had handed over some dispatches to be delivered to the authorities at New York and was about to go, M. Pinson took the opportunity to plead his cause. Although it was contrary to maritime iaw that a ship of war should take any passengers on board, Commodore Warren consented to take M. Pinson back to his own country. The boat was soon alongside the Fui ton, and M. Pinson thanked the cap tain and told him of his unfortunate expérience^ as soon as he found it possible to speak to him, while Vif-Argent sadly watched the Catiada moving away.

Several days later the Lizard was sighted, and ships

were seen much more frequently than before. Although

many ships were questioned, it was a long time before the

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captaiu found out that the privateer which he was looking for was at Cherbourg, for which port he immediately headed. One night, at about midnight, a shot was suddenly heard, and the Fulton was soon close to a burning ship. No one was on the bridge, and the ship was seen to be the Niagara of New York. A shot had just been fired to draw the attention of the sailors of the burning ship, when another fire lit up the horizon and a boat was seen to leave the fiâmes and to make for a small steamer. As soon as the Fulton aj^proached this steamer began to make ofF. But hardly had the American colours been hoisted on board the Fulton when the steamer slackened speed. When the Fulton was within range, the steamer, which the captain recognised as the Davis, hoisted the flag of the Southern States, and M. Pinson, though he had escaped a voyage to America, was now going into a naval battle.

When the Fulton for the first time fired ail her guns in answer to the Davis' s challenge, M. Pinson thought that the ship was going to founder. He went down to the between - decks, taking Vif- Argent with him. As the cannonade went on, he regained confidence. Going up the ladder he took up his position by the funnel, where he was soon joiued by Vif-Argent. Hardly had he settled down, holding Vif- Argent in his arms, when the order was given to ram the Davis and bring things to a finish. Although this movement was quickly carried out, the Davis swerved suddenly and at once started oft", leaving the Fulton 500 yards behiud, not, however, without exchanging a broadside. Although the captain soon turned his ship round, the Davis was very far ahead when he started in pursuit. He could gain on her very little, and two days later M. Pinson was astonished to find that he was on his way to the Canary Isles.

The following day a large trading-vessel was sighted, and the Davis began to incline its course towards it. Although the captaiu was for ever begging the stoker to put on speed, the Fulton could go no faster, and ail that could-be donc was to hojje for rough weather, wheu the Davis could easily be overtaken. The merchaut - vessel steered straight towards the Davis, which had hoisted the stars of the Northern States, but as soon as it came within easy range the Davis fired, and with oue of the very first shells set the ship on fire. The captain was furious. In vain had he tried to signal to the merchant- vessel ; another ship was burning beneath their very eyes. The merchantmau foundered, and the crew were taken on board the Davis. Meanwhile the Fulton had gained a considérable lead owing to the delay caused by saving the crew of the merchantman. The next day M. Pinson saw that the course had been changed, and, to the great disappointnient of Vif- Argent, the Canary Isles had been left behind, and they were going in the direction of Cape Verd.

On the next day the burning sun told M. Pinson that every hour brought them nearer to the equator, and that the Davis had once more changed her course. On April 20 land was sighted. It was now possible that the Davis would make Saint Thomas in safety, since the forts could already be seen. But a squall came before morniug, and the Fulton reached the entrance to the fairway of the harbour in time. The Davis theu tried the well-kuown trick of pretendiug to go out to sea again, and afterwards returning by night. But the captain simply coasted along the island. During the night the Davis tried

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many times to get past the Fulton but could not succeed, and M. Pinson woke next morning to find that Saint Thomas was uo longer in sight.

The Davis had made for the open sea and was travelling round the reefs which lie between the Virgin Islands, thinking that her great adversary would not be able to follow in such narrow passages, but the captain, willing to run every risk, followed close behiud. They travelled through a succession of groups of islets and seas, until at last they reached oue which had no outlet. The captain hoped at last to be able to drive the Davis into a corner. In tact the Fulto)i was rapidly approaching her adversary when suddenly she was greeted by a broadside. A bail broke the rail on which M. Pinson was leaning and he fell into the sea. Vif-Argent at once eut loose a buoy, and thinking M. Pinson could not swim jumi:)ed into the water himself The two joined one another on the buoy, but the Fulton was already far away, and Vif- Argent, who had provided himself with corn, bread, and matches in case of being wrecked, was already planning out a savage's life which he and his friend were to lead ou au island.

The nearest island was six miles away, and it was already night when they set out towards the island. Vif-Argent got on the buoy and was soon asleep. After M. Pinson had swum for an hour, his strength was gone. He was just going to wake his companion when his feet touched ground. He had reached a shallow, and now sat down to wait for morning. Vif-Argent woke up, but complained of a headache, and his incohérent words told M. Pinson

that he had the fever. They had waited there for several hours, wheu suddenly the Davis aijpeared, followed by the Fulton. The Davis took no notice of M. Pinson, though he held uj) his arms to attract their attention, but the Fidtoii lowered a boat and they ^Qxe taken on board and greeted with cheers by the crew. Vif- Argent recovered after a few days, and "when he came on deck land was in sight.

They were nearing land, and M. Pinson was standing with his higgage ready at hand, wheu Vif-Argent called out that they were startiug off again. Indeed, they were turuing away from land and were going towards five ships bringiug coal from Newcastle. The English captain was compelled against his will to give up his coal. M. Pinson, who had hoped that he would be able to go back to Englaud, was bitterly disappointed to find that the ship was going to Sizal to get cargo for the return voyage. Next morniug a steamer came out of port, painted white, and flying the Spanish flag. The captain was struck by her likeness to the Davis, but her colour and the height of her masts, added to the fact that sailors in Spanish uuiform were seen on deck, induced him to go on towards the port. M. Pinson was once more waiting to disemhark, wheu the captain was told it was in truth the Davis which he had seen that morniuti:.

The Fulton started at full speed in pursuit of her enemy. For two days she followed close after the Davis, and the coasts of Mexico came into sight, which made Vif- Argent long to visit the forests where monkeys and lions were said

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to abouiid. After trying iii vain to entrap lier enemy by manœuvring amoiig the reefs, and when she liad received several broadsides in an attempt to run {conduire) the Fulton against the rocks, the Davis took refuge in Vera Cruz. The Fulton followed and both ships dropped anchor. At last M. Pinson could land. A boat was lowered, and M. Pinson and his companion prepared to land. He thanked the crew of the Fulton and shook hands with the ofËcers, wishing them ail good wishes for the future. Ten minutes later M. Pinson and Vif- Argent said their last farewell to the crew of the Fulton from the pier of Vera Cruz.

On arriving at the town-gate M. Pinson found it closed. As there was no bell, nor even a knocker, he began kicking it to attract some one's attention. Suddenly a panel slid open in the wall and a bayonet was thrust ont, accompauied by a stern command to go. M. Pinson and Vif-Argent sat down on a seat some way olf and were soon asleep. They were wakened by soldiers standing round them and speaking to them in a strange tongue. After fruitless attempts to make himself understood M. Pinson was led otf to an agent who understood French. By him he was at once asked for his passports, and ail he could do was to tell the taie of his unfortunate adventure. The agent sent him to the French consul, and from him M. Pinson obtained a safe-conduct. He was escorted to an hôtel kept by a Frenchman, and after eating a good breakfast weut to sleep, while Vif- Argent stood at the window and wondered at the strange sights he saw in the streets. Great was his disappointment when M. Pinson told him that they would start next morning for England.

The steamer arrived, aud M. Pinson went to the office to take his tickets. The agent gave him what he wanted and asked for £95. Ail he had amounted to £20, including what he had to pay at his hôtel. The agent would not listen to his story. He was at a loss what to do, uutil at last he thought of the consul. But his attempts at persuading him to lend so large a sum were fruitless, nor would the hotel-keeper risk so much money. The steamer started that afternoon and M. Pinson remained behind. After a restless night M. Pinson again went to the consul, who had promised to do his best, and iudeed he had succeeded in finding a French vessel which would start for Havre in a month's time. M. Pinson thanked him from the bottom of his heart, and accepted £12 for his expenses at Vera Cruz.

On the next day M. Pinson and Vif- Argent left Vera Cruz and started off along the beach which lies outside its walls. For two hours they walked in the beat of the sun, until at last they reached some trees where M. Pinson lay down and slept. An hour passed and M. Pinson still lay asleep. Suddenly a flood of black blood gushed from his lips. He evidently had an attack of yellow fever. Vif- Argent persuaded the driver of a mules-train to take M. Pinson back to Vera Cruz. For days he lay dangerously ill, but after three weeks he was quite convalescent. Vif- Argent now began to absent himself in the daytime, and oniy came in twice a day. One day M. Pinson decided to go down to the port, and to his unspeakable surprise he there found Vif-Argent pushiug before him an enormous barrel.

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So great was M. Pinsou's excitement at findiug Vif- Argent at work, eaniiug enoiigh luoney to pay the hôtel exiDenses, that lie attracted tlie attention of many of the passers-by, among whom was the consul. The consul was much surprised to find M. Pinson still at Vera Cruz, and after hearing of the heroic conduct of Vif- Argent, asked M. Pinson to corne and speak to hiin next morning. Punctually at nine o'clock M. Pinson arrived at the consul's house. The consul handed him a plan for the reconstruction of the pier at Vera Cruz, and asked him to examine it and send in his report. This M. Pinson accepted, and as a resuit of his work he was appointed by the consul, in whose gift the post was, chief engineer for three years to a rich planter at a salary of twelve hundi'ed pounds a year. As to the Fidton, she captured the Davis, and as the crew and the officers, many of .them, recognised a hrother or a cousin among the prisoners, Commodore Warren was fortunate enough to obtain their pardon.