“He does intend to make it, though,” said Captain Waring, “and I depend on you and your officers to prevent your men from joining him.”
“I fear that we shall have lost our influence over our men, but we will stand by you should there be any outbreak,” said the French captain.
“I will trust you,” observed Captain Waring. “Go and speak to your officers while I take the steps necessary for our preservation.”
Captain Waring on this left the cabin, and going on deck, spoke to the first lieutenant and the midshipmen of the watch, who very speedily communicated the orders they had received to the other officers.
The lieutenant of marines quickly turned out his men, while the boatswain roused up the most trustworthy of the seamen. So quickly and silently all was done, that a strong body of officers and men well armed were collected on the quarter-deck before any of the prisoners were aware of what was going forward. They were awaiting the captain’s orders, when a loud report was heard. A thick volume of smoke ascended from below, and the next instant, with loud cries and shouts, a number of the prisoners were seen springing up the hatchway ladders.
Chapter Four.
The frigate blown up.
The Americans had been joined by a number of the Frenchmen, and some few of the worst characters of the English crew—the jail-birds chiefly, who had been won over with the idea that they would sail away to some beautiful island, of which they might take possession; and live in independence, or else rove over the ocean with freedom from all discipline.