All
their boats and half their men are away in the schooner. I should
think she would be back to-morrow morning. Either she caught them
before it got dark last night--which I don't think likely--or they
will have given her the slip in the night. In that case she might look
about for another day and then make sail to rejoin."
As Jacques predicted the schooner was seen by daylight eight or ten
miles away.
"We may as well hoist a white flag, Jacques. The captain of the
frigate will be savage that all the privateers have escaped him, but
it may put him into a good temper if he takes possession here before
the schooner arrives."
Ralph ran down to the storehouse, got hold of a sheet and an oar, and
a white flag was soon hoisted on the top of the cliff. Five minutes
later two gigs were seen rowing off from the frigate. Ralph and
Jacques took their places on the battery. When the boats reached the
mouth of the narrow entrance the order was given for the men to lay on
their oars. Ralph shouted at the top of his voice:
"You can come on, sir! We are the only two here!"
The order was given to row on, and Ralph and his companion at once
went down to meet them at the end of the harbor. The captain himself
was in the stern of his own gig, while a young lieutenant held the
lines in the other boat.
"Who are you? the captain asked, as he stepped ashore on the little
wharf.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146