The Missing Ship Part 54

The _Blonde_ and _Terpsich.o.r.e_ at length struck their colours, but Thurot held out to the last. The _Aeolus_, discharging another broadside, ran her aboard, when grappling-irons were secured and the boarders called away, led by Norman Foley and Gerald Tracy. Her deck already presented the appearance of a perfect shambles, so many of her crew lay dead and dying in all directions. A determined band still held out, headed by an officer who, by his shouts and gestures, encouraged his men to fight till the last. Gerald at first supposed that he must be Thurot, but a second look convinced him that he was a much taller and darker man. Just as the British crew sprang on board a rifle bullet struck him on the chest, and, throwing up his sword-arm, he fell backward on the deck, when the rest of the crew, retreating, shouted out that they yielded. One of the men aft immediately hauled down the French flag.

Among the slain was Thurot, who had been struck down just before the ship got alongside.

Gerald then approached the officer he had seen killed. A glance convinced him that he was no other than O'Harrall. This was confirmed by Tim Maloney, who had joined the _Aeolus_ with him, and corroborated by some of the French prisoners, who stated that he had only a short time before come on board the ship, having lately arrived from the West Indies.

"This will not be unsatisfactory news to Owen Ma.s.sey," observed Gerald to Norman Foley. "It is my belief that he is the last of the O'Harralls, and Owen will have a good chance of recovering the property of which they so unjustly deprived his family."

The prizes were towed into Ramsay Bay, in the Isle of Man, for the brave Thurot's ship had not struck until her hold was half full of water, and she was in an almost sinking state.

The French commodore was buried with the honours due to a gallant foe, and many who had formerly known him mourned his fate.

The _Aeolus_ being paid off, Lieutenant Foley obtained his commander's rank. When the war was over his young wife would not allow him again to go to sea.

Gerald stuck to the service and became an admiral.

Owen Ma.s.sey, having regained his paternal property, remained on sh.o.r.e, although he joined the representative crew of "The Ouzel Galley," of which for many years he held the honourable post of captain.

THE END.