“What!  Johnny, so you’re gone!  Didn’t I tell you that your turn would come next?  I say, my hearties, you keep all your bullets for your friends,” continued Roberts, addressing the privateer’s men.

A few “sacres” and “f——­s” was the reply, as one of them attempted to twitch his bundle out of his hand.—­“Hold fast there, old chap, don’t take what you never paid for.”

A scuffle now ensued; which ended in Roberts, who found that he could not retain possession, shying his bundle at the foremost man, with such force as to lay him on the deck.—­“Well, if you will have it, take it,” cried Roberts.

“The beggars have chopped my fingers,” growled Williams.  “I say, Mounseer, don’t make quite so free with that iron of yours, or I’ll smash your top-lights.”

“I wish I had three on ’em on Point Beach, one up and one down.  I’d sarve you out, you d—­d frog-eating sea-cooks!” said Roberts, squaring at the privateer’s men with clenched fists.

This obstreperous conduct produced a shower of blows with the backs of the cutlasses.  Williams, in a rage, wrenched a cutlass from one of the Frenchmen, and laid about him; while Roberts, with his fists, rushed within their guards, and laid two of them at his feet.  At last they were overpowered and thrown into the boat, bleeding profusely from various cuts which they had received in the unequal scuffle.  The privateer’s people then shoved off and rowed on board of the schooner.

As soon as Newton and the other Englishmen were up the side, they were pushed aft; their persons were then searched, and every part of their apparel, which appeared to be of good materials, or little worn, was taken from them.  Collins, the convict, was a good prize; he had put on shirt over shirt, stocking over stocking, and trousers over trousers, that the Frenchmen began to wonder if ever they should arrive at the “inner man.”  At last, he was uncased, an old pair of trousers thrown to him, and he was left without any other garment, shivering in the cold.  Newton, who still retained his waistcoat and shirt, took off the former, and gave it to the convict, who whispered as he thanked him, “I don’t care a fig, they have left me my old hat.”  As soon as the recapture was manned, the privateer bore up for the French coast, and before morning anchored in the rocky harbour of Morlaix.  At daylight, the prisoners, who had received no refreshment, were handed into a boat, and on their landing, conducted by a party of gens d’armes to the prison.  During their progress to their place of confinement Collins excited the amusement of the bystanders, and the surprise of his fellow-prisoners, by walking with his hands and arms raised in a certain position.  After they had been locked up, he went to the barred window, and continued the same gestures to the people who were crowded about the prison, most of whom continued their mockery.  Newton, who came forward to the window to request a little water for Roberts and Williams, who wished to quench their thirst and wash their wounds, which had not been dressed, inquired of Collins his reasons for so doing.  “It is for your benefit as well as mine,” replied Collins; “at least I hope so.  There are freemasons in all countries.”