"
"Can they see them from the other side of that island?" Ralph asked
excitedly.
"I should say they could," Jacques replied after pausing to calculate
the line of sight. "It depends how far round the frigate is lying, and
how close in shore. But if they have sent any one up on the hill
there, of course they can make them out as plainly as we can." Jacques
handed the glass to Ralph.
"Yes, I think I can make out boats, Jacques. What do you suppose they
are doing?"
"Most likely they are transferring the valuable part of her cargo on
board."
"What will they do with her then?"
"I expect they will let her go; but of course that depends whether she
is a new ship and worth taking the risk of carrying her to France."
"They don't burn or sink her, then?"
"No; there would be no good in that; for they wouldn't know what to do
with the crew. Of course they don't want the bother of prisoners here,
and they wouldn't want to turn them adrift in the boats. They might
land on some island near and see us going and coming here, and carry
the news to some of your cruisers. No, I expect they will take what is
valuable and let them go--that is if the ship isn't worth sending
home. I suppose that is so in this case; for if they were going to put
a prize crew on board and send it to France, they would not be
transferring the cargo.
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