They met with no adventure until near the mouth of the English Channel, when one morning a fleet of eight ships was perceived.  The captain of the Lass of Devon at once pronounced them to be ships of war, and their rate of sailing speedily convinced Harry that there was no chance of escape.  Against such odds resistance was useless, and the other ships were signaled to lower their topsails in answer to the gun which the leading ship of the squadron fired.  Anticipating a return to captivity, if not instant death, all on board watched the approaching men-of-war.  Presently these, when close at hand, brought up into the wind, and a boat was lowered.  It rowed rapidly to the Lass of Devon, which lay somewhat the nearest to them.  Harry stood on the quarter-deck ready to surrender his sword.  The boat came alongside, an officer leaped on deck and advanced toward him.

Harry could scarce believe his eyes; this gallant, in the gay dress of a cavalier officer, could be no follower of Cromwell.  The officer paused and gazed in astonishment at Harry.  The recognition was mutual, and the words “Furness” and “Elphinstone” broke from their lips.

“Why, Elphinstone, what squadron is that?”

“Prince Rupert’s, to be sure,” the officer said.

“What! did you take us for the Roundhead fleet?”

Harry made no reply, but taking off his hat, shouted to his men, “It is the Royalist fleet.  Three cheers for Prince Rupert.”

A cheer of joy burst from the men, caught up and re-echoed by the crews of the other ships.  Harry led the officer into his cabin, and rapidly explained to him the circumstances which had taken place; ten minutes later, entering a boat, he rowed off to the flagship.

“Why!  Harry Furness!” exclaimed Prince Rupert, “whither do you spring from?  I heard of you last as being sent to slave in the Bermudas, and methought, old friend, that you would stand the heat better than most, since you had served such a sharp apprenticeship with me in that oven you wot of.  And now tell me how is it that you have got free, and that I find you sailing here with four ships?”

Harry related his adventure.  When he had finished Prince Rupert said: 

“I envy you, Furness, in that you have three faithful friends.  One is as much as most men could even hope for, whereas you have three, who each seem willing to go through fire and water for you.  They do remind me of the wonderful servants of whom my old nurse used to tell me as a child.  They were given by a fairy to some fortunate prince, and whenever he got into sore straits were ready to do the most impossible things to free him from them.  Now you must take up your quarters here until we reach Holland, whither I am on the point of sailing.  We have picked up several fat prizes, which I have sent to Italy to sell, to pay the wages of my men, for his gracious majesty’s exchequer is of the emptiest.  But I hear that Blake is about to put to sea with the ships of the Parliament, and I care not to risk my fleet, for they will be needed to escort his majesty to Scotland are long.”