“Stand by, my lads, to make a swift run and a strong jerk, at your first pull,” said Winchester, in a low voice, as he passed down the line.  “Rapidity is mercy, at such a moment.”

“Good God!” muttered Cuffe, “can the man die in this manner, without a prayer; without even a glance toward heaven, as if asking for mercy?”

“He is an unbeliever, I hear, sir,” returned Griffin, “We have offered him all the religious consolation we could; but he seems to wish for none.”

“Hail the topgallant yards once more, Mr. Winchester,” said Cuffe, huskily.

“Foretopgallant yard, there!”

“Sir?”

“Any signs of the boat—­look well into the bay of Naples—­we are opening Campanella now sufficiently to give you a good look up toward the head.”

A pause of a minute succeeded.  Then the lookout aloft shook his head in the negative, as if unwilling to speak.  Winchester glanced at Cuffe, who turned anxiously, mounted a gun, and strained his eyes in a gaze to the northward.

“All ready, sir,” said the first lieutenant, when another minute elapsed.

Cuffe was in the act of raising his hand, which would have been the signal of death, when the dull, heavy report of a distant gun came booming down from the direction of the town of Naples.

“Stand fast!” shouted Cuffe, fearful the men might get the start of-him.  “Make your mates take their calls from their mouths, sir.  Two more guns, Winchester, and I am the happiest man in Nelson’s fleet!”

A second gun did come, just as these words were uttered:  then followed a breathless pause of half a minute, when a third smothered but unequivocal report succeeded.

“It must be a salute, sir,” Griffin uttered, inquiringly..

“The interval is too long.  Listen!  I hope to God we have had the last!”

Every ear in the ship listened intently, Cuffe holding his watch in his hand.  Two entire minutes passed, and no fourth gun was heard.  As second after second went by, the expression of the captain’s countenance changed, and then he waved his hand in triumph.

“It’s as it should be, gentlemen,” he said.  “Take the prisoner below, Mr. Winchester.  Unreeve the rope, and send that d—­d grating off the gun.  Mr. Strand, pipe down.”

Raoul was immediately led below.  As he passed through the after-hatch, all the officers on the quarter-deck bowed to him, and not a man was there in the ship who did not feel the happier for the reprieve.

CHAPTER XXIII.

     “He saw with his own eyes the moon was round,
     Was also certain that the earth was square,
     Because he’d journeyed fifty miles, and found
     No sign that it was circular anywhere.”

     Don Juan.