586 THE WATCH-TOWER OF KOAT-VEJf. 



The Thunderer was soon under weigh and hoisted the signal for 

 the chase; "All hands to quarters," cried the count, addressing the 

 erew, " Hurrah, my boys, farewell to France ; now for your enemies, 

 let us fight bravely for our king." 



" Vive le roi," snouted the crew with all their force. The count 

 left the ship in charge of his lieutenant and descended to the main 

 deck to inspect the preparations for action. 



" Why are you pale, Sir?" enquired he somewhat harshly of the 

 second gunner on the leeward quarter, who was supporting himself 

 by his gun. "I have just recovered from illness, Sir," answered the 

 man. "From what illness?" "From this, Sir," returned the man, 

 as he laid bare his breast and pointed to a newly healed wound. 

 " Why did you leave the hospital then ?" " Because the surgeon 

 told me that I only required exercise to get strong again, so I cnose 

 that of the cannon, Sir, for 1 know I shall have exercise enough in 

 fighting the English." "Your name?" "Lucas, Sir!" Henry 

 patted the man on the back as he continued his round. 



" Your battery is in excellent order," said the count, addressing 

 the gunner. " And I hope that you have not embarked any of that 

 vile ammunition, nails and broken iron, that make such horrible 

 wounds." "Yes, Sir," answered the gunner, "a quarter of the 

 charge is of that kind." " Then," said the count, turning to Mouval, 

 "I desire that such ammunition be used on board my ship only as a 

 last resource ; it is no better than heavy shot for combat, but it pro- 

 duces such distressing effects, that I consider its use an unpardonable 

 cowardice." 



The count was interrupted by a noisy uproar on the forecastle, 

 and as he proposed finishing his inspection with that part of the ship f 

 he hastened towards the fore-hatchway. In stepping up, he was 

 nearly overturned by a man rushing violently against him, and 

 seizing the steps for the purpose of securing his flight ; it was the 

 philosopher Rumphius. Rumphius was half through the hatchway ; 

 the other half was grasped forcibly by his brother Sulpice, who 

 endeavoured in vain to keep him back. " How's this, master?" en- 

 quired Henry, "why do you disobey my commands; why do you 

 not remain as I desired you in the hold, where you would be in 

 safety ?" 



" I hear, Count," answered Rumphius calmly, " that we are going 

 to have an engagement, in which the men will fall on all sides like 

 grains of maize shaken from their stern by the spirit of Naraca, as 

 Patala describes. So I conceived that I might try an experiment, 

 which I have long time had in my mind, of seeking the means of 

 measuring the velocity of the displacement of air, produced by the 

 detonation of the artillery." " You are out of your mind, my worthy 

 master," answered Henry ; " the shots you have not once bethought 

 yourself of the shots. Return then to your cabin ; and do not again 

 show yourself on deck till after the engagement." Henry now turned 

 his attention to the cockpit; the surgeon disposed his instruments of 

 pain with the most imperturbable calmness, while he abused his assist- 

 ants for not using more diligence. " Have you all you are likely to 

 require, Doctor?" enquired the count. "Every thing, Sir." "I need 



