Beside, I don't suppose in any case they
would land before morning, for they would run the risk of losing their
way in the woods. So my proposal is that at about two o'clock in the
morning we make a start, separate as soon as we get out of the harbor,
and each shift for himself. The frigate will have more than half her
crew away, and being so short-handed will not be so smart with her
sails, and will not be able to work half her guns; so that at the
outside two out of the three of us ought to get safely off."
"But suppose that the schooner happens to be round here, and they make
up their minds to wait a day before attacking, we should have two of
them after us then; and that schooner sails like a witch."
"I have thought of that," Captain Vipon said. "My idea is to put a man
on the top of the cliff just above where the schooner is anchored. If
she is lying there he is to light a fire a short distance back from
the edge of the cliff. There should be another man on the top of the
hill. When he sees the fire he shall show a lantern three times. We
will return the signal to let him know that we see it. If the schooner
goes away early in the evening the lookout is not to light the fire
until he sees her returning, at whatever hour it may be. The moment we
see the light we will set sail.'
"But how about the two signallers?" one of the other captains said.
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