A VOYAGE IN THE NORTH SEAS. 399 



with which the affair was executed, the British government became 

 acquainted with it in time, if not to preserve the property of its 

 subjects from destruction, at least to punish its destroyers. A fleet 

 was despatched to intercept the French vessels on their return ; and 

 so well were their plans laid, and so correct their information, that 

 not one of the enemy's ships escaped. The English force was over- 

 powering : with the disabled ships and sickly crews of the French, 

 resistance would have been madness ; so, instead of carrying their 

 laurels and their prisoners into France, they pulled down their 

 colours, shrugged up their shoulders, made some philosophic re- 

 flections on the fortune of war, and, with the inimitable grace which 

 not even defeat and chagrin can drive from a Frenchman, they yielded 

 themselves up to the foe. The Blanche struck to a frigate and a 

 gun-brig, which had for some days previously been lying in wait for 

 her. From the quarter-deck of the smaller vessel Arundel observed 

 an officer fling a spy-glass, through which he had been examining 

 the prize, into the water, and wondered whether accident or astonhis- 

 ment had occasioned so strange an action. A few minutes how- 

 ever had scarcely elapsed, when he was accosted by a midshipman 

 from the gun-brig, who gave his captain's respects, coupled with a 

 request that the English on board the Blanche would favour him 

 with their society. Though surprised at this early mark of courtesy, 

 Arundel took leave of his French friends, and accompanied by Flora 

 was rowed to the English vessel. He was ushered into the cabin, 

 and the next moment was clasped in the arms of Harry Hollyoak ! 

 The doubt, the fear, and the rapture of certainty which followed in 

 Arundel's breast, must be left to the imagination. He put back the 

 form of his friend, and scanned for a few moments his features at 

 arm's-length ; yes! it was the same frank, laughing, kind-hearted 

 Harry, whom he had loved so well in the sunny days of boyhood, 

 and whose blood had so long hung heavy on his soul. And Frank, 

 as he again clasped his recovered friend to his heart, felt the gloom 

 fade away from his spirit like the vapours of the morning ; and lo ! 

 there again lay the past, pleasant as of yore, and there extended the 

 joyful future, bright and beautiful as in his early dreams. 



Few words sufficed to explain the causes of the happy meeting. 

 Notwithstanding his great loss of blood, Hollyoak's wound had 

 proved to be unattended with danger, requiring beefsteaks and port 

 wine as the chief medicines. He had learnt Arundel's route from 

 llhimeson, and had succeeded in being appointed to one of the 

 vessels despatched to intercept the French squadron, though of 

 course without the most remote hope of such a fortuitous combina- 

 tion of circumstances as had occurred. 



The rapidity of Hollyoak's explanation was interrupted by his 

 eyes for the first time falling on the figure of Flora, who, unwilling 

 to disturb the emotions of the friends, had sunk down on a seat in a 

 corner of the apartment. Harry's wide-opened eye asked a question 

 as plain as a note of interrogation. Arundel, promising him the 

 story at a future time, introduced her as his wife. "Ah!" said 

 Harry, as he cast a glance of admiration at Flora's flushing cheek, 

 " to this complexion must we come at last;" and then whispered 



