“’Tis nothing but a Corsican coaster, after all, Etooell:  I hardly think the English would risk our canister again, for the pleasure of being beaten off in another attempt to board!”

“They’re a spiteful set, aboard the frigate; and the Lord only knows!  See, here is a good heavy night air, and that felucca is not a cable’s length from us; set her by the jib-stay, and judge for yourself how slowly she goes ahead! That it is which nonplusses me!”

Raoul did as the other desired, and after a short trial he found that the coaster had no perceptible motion ahead, while it was certain she was drifting down with the current directly athwart the lugger’s hawse.  This satisfied him that she must have drags astern; a circumstance that at once denoted a hostile intention.  The enemy was probably on board the felucca, in force; and it was incumbent on him to make immediate preparations for defence.

Still, Raoul was reluctant to disturb his people.  Like all firm and cool men, he was averse to the parade of a false alarm; and it seemed so improbable that the lesson of the morning was so soon forgotten, that he could hardly persuade himself to believe his senses.  Then the men had been very hard at work throughout the day; and most of them were sleeping the sleep of the weary.  On the other hand, every minute brought the coaster nearer, and increased the danger, should the enemy be really in possession of her.  Under all the circumstances, he determined, first, to hail; knowing that his crew could be got up in a minute, and that they slept with arms at their sides, under an apprehension that a boat attack might possibly be attempted in the course of the night.

“Felucca, ahoy!” called out the captain of le Feu-Follet, the other craft being too near to render any great effort of the voice necessary; “what felucca is that? and why have you so great a drift?”

“La Bella Corsienne!” was the answer, in a patois, half French, half Italian, as Raoul expected, if all were right.  “We are bound into la Padulella, and wish to keep in with the land to hold the breeze the longer.  We are no great sailer at the best, and have a drift, because we are just now in the strength of the current.

“At this rate, you will come athwart my hawse.  You know I am armed, and cannot suffer that!”

“Ah, Signore, we are friends of the republic, and would not harm you if we could.  We hope you will not injure poor mariners like us.  We will keep away, if you please, and pass under your stern—­”

This proposition was made so suddenly and so unexpectedly that Raoul had not time to object; and had he been disposed to do so, the execution was too prompt to allow him the means.  The felucca fell broad off, and came down almost in a direct line for the lugger’s bows before the wind and current, moving fast enough now to satisfy all Ithuel’s scruples.

“Call all hands to repel boarders!” cried Raoul, springing aft to the capstan and seizing his own arms—­“Come up lively, mes enfans!—­here is treachery!”