Three Score and Ten.

COME to me, little one,

Out of the autumn sun;

Play must be surely done—

Three kisses, then.

Clamber up on my knee.

Old, do they say of me?

You would not like to be

Three score and ten!

TIME'S to be blamed, not I;

Whether we laugh or sigh,

His busy wheels must fly

For maids and men.

Once I was six years old,

Only the years have roll'd;

Most of the tale is told

At three score and ten!

AGE, too, has dreams of May,

Loved faces gone away,

Green ways grown sad and gray.

Scarce we know when.

Crying?—no, little one;

Tears should be past and done,

Rest is so nearly won,

At three score and ten!

LIFT me your baby eyes,

Blue as the summer skies;

THE DESPATCHES FOR GIBRALTAR.
A VICTORIA CROSS AFFAIR.
By Gilbert Heron.

Illustrated by D. B. Waters and F. T. Jane.

"'I HAVE DECIDED TO ENTRUST YOU WITH A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS MISSION.'"

"'I HAVE DECIDED TO ENTRUST YOU WITH A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS MISSION.'"

In the summer of 189-, the Channel Squadron, having taken part in the Annual Mobilisation, had dispersed.

Ships and men alike were resting, the former in their respective dockyards, the latter enjoying themselves after their kind on leave.

Although only a senior lieutenant, I had lately been appointed to the command of a torpedo-gunboat, the Quickmatch, a vessel of the Speedy type, which I had left at Portsmouth. I was spending my leave at the country seat in Hampshire of one of my late father's oldest friends, whose daughter I had long loved, when a telegram arrived ordering me to join my ship with all possible despatch. Hawes,our cheeky little clerk, evidently thinking I should regard it as a piece of good news, had added on his own responsibility, "War declared! Vive la gloire!"

So it had come, then, and I should have to leave the delights of love in a country house for the stern realities of war. There was nothing for it but to leave Bertha and say farewell. We had been engaged for some time, but had decided that it would be folly to marry till I had at least reached the rank of Commander; and the one drop of sweetness in the bitter cup of our farewell was the thought that active service would give me an opportunity for quick promotion.

It was difficult to find a quiet corner for leave-taking; but eventually, in the drawing-room, behind a palm-shaded screen, I bade her a long good-bye.

"I will write whenever I can, dearest," I said, "but I expect it will not be an easy matter. You must be content to hear from me at odd intervals till the war is over. You will trust me, dear, will you not?"

"With my very life!" was her passionate reply. "Oh, Herbert! Herbert!" she cried, the tears, which nothing could now hold back, coming thick and fast; "I will pray for you always—always, that the God of battles may spare you to me!"

At length I managed to tear myself away, leaving her to find consolation from Him who dries all tears with His infinite pity and compassion, and gives even to weak women and little children a strength that many an erring man envies.

I reached the Quickmatch the same night, and found instructions to join up with the great fleet which was already assembling at Spithead.

The next morning we weighed anchor in the presence of the greatest crowd of people it has ever been my lot to witness. Southsea beach was one compact mass of men, women, and children, anxious to get a last glimpse of the near and dear ones who were so soon to do battle for their native land.

Slowly we moved off, and though we were far from the shore, on the outside right of the fleet, we could hear the hoarse cries which broke wildly from the vast concourse watching us steam away—from home and friends, from love and life, from all that man holds dear, to death and an unknown resting-place.

Two days later saw us across the Bay of Biscay, in compliance with the sealed instructions which the Admiral had opened as soon as we were out of sight of land. The Channel Squadron, with Gibraltar as its temporary headquarters, was to keep open the line of communication from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. This, with the information that France and Russia were actively operating against us, was all we knew.

The Blenheim had been sent on ahead as one of our scouts, and she had signalled nothing of consequence till we had arrived off Cape St. Vincent. Then, however, she sent us some sufficiently startling news by her mast-head semaphore. She reported that a strong French fleet lay stretched right across the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar.

Immediately all was excitement aboard. Evidently we should have to force our passage through them, and everyone was keenly awaiting the signal to get into "line of battle." But the signal did not come.

A heavy white fog came stealing across the face of the waters, and in a very few moments had swallowed up sea and sky and ships in its devouring obscurity.

Then came a signal to stop engines, and soon the entire fleet had stopped and were lying almost as if at anchor.

Besides myself, the officers of the Quickmatch consisted of a lieutenant, Taylor, who acted as my first lieutenant and performed the navigating duties; a sub-lieutenant, Hastings, fresh from college; an engineer officer; and a gunner, a fine specimen of a self-educated bluejacket who resolutely sets himself to climb the ladder of promotion from the lower deck.

We were standing together on the quarter-deck discussing the probability of the fog lifting, when I was surprised by a signal from Admiral Beaufoy, ordering me to repair aboard the flag-ship.

I lost no time in obeying his summons, and in a few minutes was standing in his cabin.

The Admiral, who was pacing to and fro when I entered, stopped and curiously regarded me for a few embarrassing seconds.

"Ralph," he said at length, "I have decided to entrust you with a difficult and dangerous mission."

I bowed in silence, wondering to what this was to lead. Evidently it was something serious, and success would mean promotion, and promotion—marriage! And at that thought my lovelorn mind went back to the picture of Bertha seated under the old elm tree, a picture so sweet that for an instant I entirely forgot the business on hand.

I was recalled from my day-dreams by the cold, calm voice of the Admiral. "The position," he was saying, "as you are aware, is this:—

"There is a powerful French fleet between us and Gibraltar. I intend to fight that fleet"—his eyes sparkled, and he involuntarily clenched his fists—"and drive it into the Mediterranean.

"Now, I have very important despatches from home for the Governor of Gibraltar, which must be delivered not later than to-morrow. I had intended to deliver them myself, not being aware of the presence of the blockading fleet. Then, when I heard of their position, I had determined to attack at dawn, and thus the despatches would still have been in time. But now, since I cannot attack till the fog lifts"—he made a gesture of impatience—"and that may be days, the only thing left for me to do is to run past the French, and so deliver the despatches to the Governor."

I was all attention, and followed the Admiral intently as he went on, now somewhat more quickly.

"The Quickmatch, Ralph, is in every way suited for such a purpose, and I intend you to take her through. Now, please, listen carefully to the suggestions I am about to make you. Will you take a glass of wine?"

I was so elated at the prospect of distinction thus offered to me that I hardly know how I answered.

The Admiral continued: "If you start shortly, you will be in the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar about sunset, and you can creep along under the lee of the African coast with a very fair chance of success. You will thus arrive at Gibraltar during the night, and go at once to the Governor and deliver your despatches. You will then await further orders. Of course, in the event of failure——"

Here I leapt up and interrupted him. "Failure, sir! I shall not think of it! I'll get past those Frenchmen, and deliver my despatches, though the whole French navy were after me. Failure, sir! Not if the Quickmatch and every soul aboard of her goes to the bottom! No, not even then!"

The Admiral smiled at my warmth. Of course, he did not know that my life-long happiness—Bertha, to wit—depended on my getting through with those despatches.

He poured out a glass of champagne, and said, "Don't be too sanguine, Ralph. It's no easy matter, you know, to dodge past such a fleet; but I've great confidence in you, and somehow I think you'll do it. Come, let's drink to your success!"

And, standing, we drained our glasses.

The undertaking was certainly rather a big order, and in my most extravagant dreams of distinction I had not ventured to hope of such a thing. What a glorious chance of distinguishing myself! Most of the men I knew would give their ears for such an opportunity, and here it was within my grasp at the very outset of the war.

The Admiral was a man of few words. Going to a curious little Indian safe which stood in a corner of the cabin, he took from it the precious despatches I was to risk my own and the lives of all my shipmates to deliver.

"A RINGING CHEER FOLLOWED US AS THE THICK GREY MIST RAPIDLY SWALLOWED US UP."

"Here, sir," he said, "are the documents. They contain most important political information, and must be in the Governor's hands as soon as possible. In case of any accident, burn them, throw them overboard, destroy them somehow. But don't, for goodness' sake, let them fall into the hands of the enemy. They are more important than I dare hint at. Take them, and success go with you!"

The fog was as thick as ever when I got on deck, and getting into my boat, we cautiously crept our way through the mist, and five minutes later I was aboard.

I went at once down to my cabin and sent for my faithful first lieutenant. I made him sit down, and told him what we had to do. He did not seem to think it a very great piece of good luck.

"Quite good enough to have to chance it with the remainder," he said, "without getting sent on beastly special service jobs. Still, there's no help for it I suppose, and so we'll have to buckle to and get ready."

And as Taylor had no inducement to make him long for adventures of this kind, in the shape of a lady-love, I could hardly blame him for not taking quite so enthusiastic a view of the affair as myself.

Meanwhile, time was advancing, and at four bells (2 p.m.) we got under way. It was too foggy for the ships' companies to see much of us as we moved away, but as we noiselessly glided through the now calm and oily water with ever-increasing speed past the Terrible, someone noticed us, and a ringing cheer followed us as the thick grey mist rapidly swallowed us up.

And as we got settled down to our work we increased the speed, and presently were going a good 20 knots per hour—never a slow speed, and in such thick weather an infinitely perilous thing to do.

But then, as I told Taylor, "Fog or no fog, we've only got a few hours to do it in, and we're about 150 miles away. Besides, we'll have to ease down when we get close in shore, and so we'd better make the most of it while we can." Nevertheless, I knew what a fearsome thing I was doing.

Up on deck one could see but a few yards away from the ship's side. All around us lay the white impenetrable mist, wrapping up everything in its death-like folds, which shut out not only sight but sound.

Any moment the form of some ship might loom spectrally up through the fog, and hurl us to destruction; and, clinging to the rail, I constantly strained my eyes ahead, endeavouring to pierce the impenetrable mist in front of us. In this way we continued throughout the afternoon, and at four o'clock Taylor came up to relieve me on the bridge. Going below, I took a hasty meal, and bethought myself of the best plan for carrying the despatches, which I wished to keep continually on my person.

Some instinct seemed to tell me that I should not suffer injury; and while I lived I was determined that the documents should be delivered. I decided to place them in an oilskin envelope, and then to put them within my cholera belt—that indispensable adjunct to all those who are constantly exposed to quick changes of temperature. When I did eventually go on deck again it was nearly five, and to my great joy I saw that the fog was decidedly lifting. Far away on our starboard beam we could just catch a faint glimpse of Morocco's cruel-looking coast.

I went up on the bridge to Taylor. "Can you see anything?" he asked as I came up. "What's in sight, old man?" I replied somewhat anxiously, for I knew by his manner he had seen something worth looking at.

"WE COULD SEE THREE CRUISERS, THE ADVANCE GUARD OF THE FRENCH FLEET."

For answer he pointed dead ahead. And there, very faint and indistinct in the still somewhat dense atmosphere, we could see three cruisers, the advance guard of the French fleet.

"We must run in under the land, Taylor," I said, trembling with suppressed excitement.

"We must certainly dodge those three beggars." He nodded and gave orders for the wheel to be put round hard to port. Round came the dear little craft, beautifully (she was a regular demon for turning, performing the manœuvre easily in her own length) and we headed dead for the rocky coast.

"Half-speed," I shouted, and instantly "cling-clang!" rang out the indicator bell as they put the engines down as I had ordered.

We were not observed as yet, but the fog was rapidly lifting now, and soon we should be well within sight of the French, and the greatest caution was necessary.

So for the next hour we crept slowly along, all eyes fixed on the forest of masts ahead of us. It was by this time nearly pitch dark, an unusual thing for the time of the year, which we put down to the dense fog. It had lifted from the face of the waters, but would still be hanging like a thick pall overhead.

As we advanced we could clearly see the great fleet of the enemy, lying well on our port side, only about eight miles distant, and spread out so as to cover a great extent.

We were right in under the shadow of the rocks, as close in now as I dared venture, for although our draught was very light, the coast is a most treacherous one, and any moment a sunken rock might do us irreparable harm. All at once a broad bright streak of brilliant light shot up into the dark and moonless night, followed first by one or two, and then by many others, which crossed and recrossed the horizon perpetually. The French had begun to work their searchlights!

"THE FRENCH BEGAN TO WORK THEIR SEARCHLIGHTS."

And now commenced the real difficulty of our task. Should we venture to even cross one of those brilliant paths of light so vividly flashing all around us, we must inevitably be discovered. Speaking in whispers, hardly daring even to breathe, I cautiously guided the little vessel in and out and to and fro, so as to avoid if possible those argus eyes. But no calculation, no precaution, could be of any use to us now, and I knew not at what instant one of those lights might be directed full on us, and reveal every detail of our vessel in its pitilessly searching glare.

We were of course all ready for action, and I had given orders that all the watertight compartments were to be closed. Taylor now came up and reported everything ready, and the men assembled at their posts ready for any and every emergency. The torpedo tubes were each and all laden with their deadly freight, and the two 4·7 inch quick-firing bow and stern guns were manned; the latter under Taylor's supervision, the former under the gunner's.

I had increased our speed again, and we should soon be within hailing distance of the out-lying French cruisers, and I knew that our immunity could not last many moments more.

And sure enough, the next instant a blinding white light rested for a couple of seconds upon us, throwing every little detail up into a strong relief, and then was gone, leaving the black night blacker than ever by contrast. It was the search light of the nearest Frenchman.

"Spotted, by George!" said Taylor, vehemently. "We're done!"

"Now or never!" I shouted. "Full speed ahead!"

Like a gallant racehorse responding to its rider's whip the little craft sprang suddenly forward, and in a very few moments we were past the cruiser, who had as yet not quite determined whether she had seen us or not, out into the blackness beyond.

As I have already said, the fleet was lying well from us to port, and the cruiser who had seen us was about the only ship we had immediately to fear. But now she began to work all her search lights in our direction, and every few seconds we were disclosed relentlessly in the glare of their 25,000-candle-power lights. The attention of the other ships had by this time been drawn to us, and now several more began to dodge their lights about and around us.

"There she goes, sir," said the Quarter-master at the wheel to me the next instant, as a brilliant flash came from the bows of the French cruiser, followed by a loud and ringing report.

"Not a bad shot," said Taylor, as with a "whirrr-rrr-ooo" the projectile shrieked its way through the air high over our heads.

"Gentle hint to lie to, sir," said the Quarter-master, with an attempt at a smile.

As he spoke I could see the cruiser turning and steaming off after us, flashing a signal to her flag-ship as she did so. Then two small vessels detached themselves from the fleet and prepared to follow us also.

But we were past them all, and had a full head of steam on, and so we could reasonably hope to have a very good run for it at least.

Presently—bang! and another shot whizzed past us and lost itself in the night.

It was a shell, and we heard it explode far ahead as it plunged down into the water.

"Are the night sights all in good order?" I asked Taylor, who stood close by, with his hands in his pockets, as nonchalant as ever, smoking a cigarette.

"Everything's O.K., old man," was his reply. "I'd dearly love to give 'em a taste of our after 4·7. Don't you think we ought to, now?"

"No," said I; "I don't think we will just yet. We'll reserve that for awhile till they get within closer range. They probably have not quite made up their minds yet as to who we are!"

And now the chase grew furious.

We were rushing along for all we were worth, and our funnels were almost red-hot, vomiting sparks and flames as copiously as smoke. The roaring of our furnaces could be plainly heard on deck, and the work in the stoke-hold was enormous. The cruiser behind us was gaining slightly; but if we could manage to escape without much damage for the next hour we should be well within range of Gibraltar, and the enemy would hardly attempt to follow us any further. "Besides," said I to Taylor, "if they hear firing, surely the Rupert or the Polyphemus will put out to reconnoitre, and of course either will be a very valuable help."

All this time the cruiser had been firing intermittently, and we had not taken much account of the two smaller vessels, who were beginning to gain rapidly. They were torpedo-boat destroyers, and if they got much closer we should have to avow our identity by opening fire.

But suddenly a great cloud of steam burst from the hindmost one, and she began to rock violently.

"She's bust 'er b'iler, sir," said the Quarter-master. "She ain't no more good, anyway. That's one less to reckon with, sir." Evidently something serious had occurred, for the boat swung round in her course, and we could see the men rushing in confusion hither and thither on her decks, while a dense cloud of steam still arose from her funnels.

But the other boat was rapidly gaining.

Leaving Taylor in charge of the bridge, I rushed along aft to the quarter deck. "Are you ready to fire?" I shouted to the captain of the gun.

"Aye, aye, sir," was the cheery response from the man, a grizzled old gunner's mate with a shaggy beard, who had seen service in every corner of the globe—a man of cast-iron nerves, with a fondness for rum and the everlasting piece of spun-yarn tied round his bare big toe.

"Get a good sight on," I said. "Aim low at that torpedo boat coming up astern, and fire when I give you the word. Put on about 1,000 yards, but be sure to aim well down, now!"

The old veteran bent low and carefully over the tiny night sight. "She's coming on beautif'ly, sir," he said. "I've got 'er fixed right amidships. Ready, sir?"

As he spoke the cruiser's search-light accidentally rested full on the torpedo boat. At the same instant a well-directed shot from her bow gun rushed by us, crashing into the woodwork of the bridge behind our backs.

"Fire!" I sang out.

A blinding flash, and the distressingly sharp report of cordite, followed immediately. It was our first shot, but it did more damage than the Frenchman, with all her firing, had been able to inflict on us. As we strained our eyes in the direction of the boat, we saw the shell burst right between her funnels.

"Good shot!" I yelled in triumph.

"THE POOR WRETCHES RUSHED UP ON DECK TO FIND THEIR FRAIL COCKLESHELL GOING OVER RAPIDLY."

A brilliant flare of spark and flame shot suddenly up into the night, and then came a fearful agonised pandemonium, as the poor wretches rushed up on deck, to find their frail cockleshell of a ship hit in her vitals, and going over rapidly. We could see the water full of struggling figures, and then suddenly she heeled and collapsed, and I could look no more, for the cruiser, without attempting to pick up a soul, now began to fire rapidly and continuously at us.

Taylor, in our tiny conning tower, was steering a most erratic course, which rendered hitting us a matter of some difficulty, as all the target we presented was our stern, which, only coming at intervals into the glare of the searchlight, was no easy matter to follow with a gun.

We now began to fire continuously also, but could not tell whether our shots told or not, and indeed we could hardly hope to do much damage, for the cruiser was evidently a boat of weight, and, in accordance with the French custom, would be heavily armoured round her bows.

I looked at my watch. It was past eight, and we could reasonably hope to be within sight and hearing of Gibraltar soon.

For the next fifteen minutes nothing of importance happened; but just as we sighted Tarifa Light ahead, there was a terrible crash, followed by a loud report, and I was thrown flat on my back on the deck.

They had hit us in the stern, and evidently low down.

Jumping to my feet and half stunned by the shock, I rushed down below, and attempted to discover the extent of the damage. The shell had crashed right through the after bulk-heading, and had exploded in the ward-room.

The wreckage was fearful. As far as I could tell from a hasty glance round, there was not a single thing untouched.

I had no time to observe details though, but I noticed that the foremost water-tight doors had held good, and the water, which was now coming in very fast astern, would thus be prevented from gaining on the fore part of the vessel.

But were the screws touched, or the steering-gear?

"A SHOT CARRIED AWAY A FUNNEL AND KILLED POOR TAYLOR."

"A SHOT CARRIED AWAY A FUNNEL AND KILLED POOR TAYLOR."

I was not able to make a direct examination, and went at once on deck again, where the firing was now fast and furious.

Another and another shot struck us, and the sight was piteous. Not a boat remained at the davits, and everywhere splinters were flying about, wounding many a poor fellow as he stood at his gun. The shell which had exploded below, too, had set the Quickmatch on fire in two places, and I had to send some men down with the hose, lest the fire should spread to the deck beneath our feet.

Suddenly out of the darkness right ahead came a bright glare of light, followed by the reports of several guns.

Looking, I beheld a sight that made my heart leap for very joy.

"Hurrah, the Polyphemus!" I shouted. "We shall do it yet, men!"

For the famous torpedo-ram, the only ship of her kind in the world, had appeared on the scene, and a formidable opponent would our friends the enemy find her.

And as if to damp my ardour there came another shot from the cruiser, which, carrying away our foremost funnel with an awful crash, struck the bridge, killing poor Taylor instantaneously as he stood there.

"Oh! the blackguards!" I yelled despairingly, my heart down in my boots again, for the cruiser was now rapidly nearing us.

There was, unfortunately, no chance of our torpedoing her, for our stern-tube had been knocked to atoms by the shell which had come in astern. Were we to lose the day at the eleventh hour, and just as the succour we so greatly needed came in sight? It was too bitter; and, forgetful of every risk now, I shook my fist frantically at the Frenchman, a frightful rage gnawing at my heart. After coming so far and losing so many brave men, to fail at last!

But it had been ordained that I was not to fail in my mission, after all, for the Polyphemus had now to be reckoned with by the Frenchman, and she was gallantly trying to draw the enemy's fire from us to herself.

We were very close in shore, and the cruiser was now trying to get in after us, so as to present one broadside to us and the other to the Polyphemus.

She gave her helm a turn, and was almost down upon us.

Simultaneously the Polyphemus, that wonderful vessel, releasing her false bottom, lightened her draught by several hundred tons, and seemed to spring bodily into the air, and was in between us.

But not before a shot from the Frenchman, fired almost point blank, struck our port upperdeck torpedo-tube.

There was a terrible deafening crash, and I was flung headlong into the water.

Then came sudden silence, the more intense for the raving turmoil that had filled my ears the moment before, and I went down and down, to an apparently interminable depth, till I began to wonder, in an impersonal sort of way, whether I were ever coming to the surface again.

But before I had realised it, I had shot up again, and my head was above water.

Heavily weighted as I was by my clothes and sea-boots, I struggled fiercely to maintain my position. But though I felt no pain, a sudden numbness had taken possession of my right leg, and vainly I attempted to swim or tread water.

Twice I had already gone under, when I found myself grasped by the coat collar, and a gruff voice shouted hoarsely in my ear, "Keep it up, sir, you're all right!"

It was Bates, the gunner's mate, who had managed, as he had so many times before, to escape unhurt, and had got hold of a spar. I grasped his arm and the piece of oar, and looked about me.

The cold had restored my scattered faculties, and it was indeed a fearful and heartrending sight that I beheld. Almost beyond conception, the terrible scene is to this day branded on my brain, never to be erased till my dying day.

There were but few souls in the water, alas, for the explosion had killed most of my men as they stood on the upperdeck, and the Quickmatch was nowhere to be seen.

A couple of hundred yards away, still keeping up an aimless fire, was the Frenchman; a terrible outcry rising from her decks; the men already breaking away from the restraints of discipline and leaping headlong over the side.

The Polyphemus had rammed her!

As we gazed we saw the great vessel vomiting flames and men, heel slowly over, and gradually go down into the unknown depths; a fearful hissing noise, followed by a terrible explosion, telling of the dire conflict of fire and water as her furnaces met their natural enemy. The air was thick with lurid smoke, filled with the shrieks of the dying and the fierce oaths of men who were vainly attempting to catch some passing spar, or clutching at some more favoured individual at the imminent risk of dragging both down to destruction in their frenzy.

We strained our eyes in the direction of the Polyphemus, and had the heartfelt satisfaction of seeing her lowering all her available boats.

And then the reaction overcame me and I fainted dead away, and would inevitably have drowned but for the strong right arm of Bates.

****

When I came to myself I was in a bunk on board the Polyphemus, with a group of anxious faces round me.

There was a strong odour of iodoform in the cabin, and a lavish display of lint and bandages, for which I vainly tried to account. I felt at once for the despatches, and had the satisfaction of feeling their bulky outline against my skin.

"All right now?" cheerily asked the little Welsh doctor who had been busily engaged in bringing me to life again.

"Yes, thanks," I replied, trying to sit upright in the bunk, a movement which gave me excruciating pain, and was promptly prevented by the sick bay steward and the doctor.

"Come, come!" he said, with a smile, "none of your nonsense, now. You won't be able to move for a while yet."

Then I remembered the strange numbness of my right leg when I fell into the water.

"What has happened?" I asked. "What have I done—what——"

"Well, if you insist," he said, unwillingly, "you've broken your thigh. It's nothing much, just a simple fracture," he continued, quickly. "Soon be well again, and none the worse for it. Now, don't worry; you'll probably be able to walk as well as if nothing had happened."

I lay still and groaned. This, then, was to be the end of all my vain-glorious imaginings. I began to pity myself with an exceeding pity. Instead of dramatically delivering my despatches, I was to lie on a sick bed. I was deformed, disfigured—what would Bertha think when she saw me! In spite of the doctor's assurance, I felt sure that I should go through life with a limp. A graceful figure I should make!

The Captain of the Polyphemus here suddenly recalled my wandering mind.

"We shall be very glad to have an account of your adventures, Lieutenant Ralph," he said, courteously, "and how you came to be chased by that brute of a cruiser."

In as few words as possible I told them all that had occurred since the declaration of war, finally inquiring for Bates, to whom I owed my life, and had the happiness of hearing that he was safe and sound aboard.

"You have done a very plucky thing, sir," said the Captain, at the close of my recital. "You fought a splendid fight, and I am sure your country will not forget your brave and valuable services. I am sorry to say that only four of your ship's company have been recovered, and a few Frenchmen."

We were by this time nearly at Gibraltar; and the Captain, having received the despatches from me and assured me they should go at once to the Governor, left me to fall into a deep, refreshing sleep, from which I awoke calm and content. The despatches were delivered in time, though not by my hand. But their safe delivery was the chief matter.

That night, in spite of the doctor's protestations, I was taken from the ship and sent ashore, where I was received at the comfortable little Gibraltar hospital.

My thigh was indeed badly fractured, but a sound constitution, aided by the unremitting care bestowed upon me in Gibraltar, soon brought me round again, but a slight limp is always with me.

****

When my dear wife, who looks over my shoulder as I write these words, says that my infirmity is no less glorious than the Victoria Cross which rests so proudly on my breast, I feel amply repaid for anything I may have done or risked in the service of my country; and the day when I shall attain flag-rank looms larger upon the satisfactory horizon of my life.

Three Score and Ten.

THE DESPATCHES FOR GIBRALTAR.A VICTORIA CROSS AFFAIR.By Gilbert Heron.

THE DESPATCHES FOR GIBRALTAR.
A VICTORIA CROSS AFFAIR.
By Gilbert Heron.