“All safe,” he whispered; “what would you have me do?”

“Nothing, but shove yourself ahead carefully, by means of your feet.”

This Raoul did; at first, as it might be, inch by inch, until Ithuel put the end of a rope into his hands, telling him it was well fast to the channel above.  The rope rendered the rest easy; the only danger now being of too much precipitation.  Nothing would have been easier than for Raoul to drag his body out at the port, and to drop into the boat, but, to escape, it was still necessary to avoid observation.  The ship was quite half a league from the point of Campanella, and directly abreast of it; and there was no security to the fugitives unless they got some distance the start of any pursuers.  This consideration induced the utmost caution on the part of Ithuel; nor was it entirely lost on his friend.  By this time, however, Raoul found he was so completely master of his movements as to be able to swing his legs out of the port by a very trifling effort; then the descent into the boat would be the easiest thing imaginable.  But a pressure from the hand of Ithuel checked him.

“Wait a little,” whispered the latter, “till the Eyetalians are at it, cat and dog fashion.”

The discussion was now so loud and warm, that it was not necessary to lose much time.  Ithuel gave the signal, and Raoul dragged his head and shoulders up by his arms, while he placed his feet against the gun; the next moment, he was hanging perpendicularly beneath the main-chains.  To drop lightly and noiselessly into the boat, took but a second.  When his feet touched a thwart, he found that the American was there before him.  The latter dragged him down to his side, and the two lay concealed in the bottom of the yawl, with a cloak of Ghita’s thrown over their persons.  Carlo Giuntotardi was accustomed to the management of a craft like that in which he now found himself, and simply releasing his boat-hook from one of the chains, the ship passed slowly ahead, leaving him, in about a minute, fairly in her wake, a hundred feet astern.

So far, everything had succeeded surprisingly.  The night was so dark as to embolden the two fugitives now to rise, and take their seats on the thwarts; though all this was done with exceeding caution, and without the least noise.  The oars were soon out, Carlo took the tiller, and a feeling of exultation glowed at the heart of Raoul, as he bent to his ashen implement, and felt the boat quiver with the impulse.

“Take it coolly, Captain Rule,” said Ithuel in a low voice; “it’s a long pull, and we are still within ear-shot of the frigate.  In five minutes more we shall be dropped so far as to be beyond sight; then we may pull directly out to sea, if we wish.”

Just then the bell of the Proserpine struck four; the signal it was eight o’clock.  Immediately after, the watch was called, and a stir succeeded in the ship.

“They only turn the hands up,” said Raoul, who perceived that his companion paused, like one uneasy.