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Rh Tregenna was looking over the side, anxious to learn whether his men had suffered much.

"Sir," called out the boatswain, cheerily, "I've good news for you!"

"Well, and what is it?" asked the lieutenant, as he scanned, with some bewilderment, a sort of heap which lay in the bows of the little boat.

"Oons, sir, we've brought a prisoner along," answered the boatswain, in a ringing voice. "And wounded beside. And 'tis none other than Jem Bax, that's long been known as the biggest rascal of the lot!"

Instead of receiving this intelligence with the delight and congratulations which the hero of the capture evidently expected, Tregenna uttered a sound which was very like a groan, and exclaimed, in a most lugubrious voice—

"The devil you have!"

The boatswain, startled and disappointed, looked at his captain in astonishment.

"Plague on't, sir, but I thought I'd done the smartest night's work ever fell to my lot!" cried he.

"Take him back!" roared Tregenna, as soon