As soon as the boat was sent to seize the felucca, the yawl was put into the water, and Raoul himself began to sound around the lugger.  The rocks of the Sirens, as the islets are called to this day, are sufficiently elevated above the surface of the sea to be visible at some distance; though, lying in a line with the coast, it would not have been easy for the lookouts of le Feu-Follet to discern them at the hour when she struck, even had they been on the alert.  The increasing light, however, enabled the French fully to ascertain their position, and to learn the extent of the evil.  The lugger had been lifted into a crevice between two of the rocks, by a ground-swell heavier than common; and though there was deep water all around her, it would be impossible to get her afloat again without lightening.  So long as the wind did not blow, and the sea did not rise, she was safe enough; but a swell that should force the hull to rise and fall would inevitably cause her to bilge.  These facts were learned in five minutes after the yawl was in the water, and much did Raoul rejoice at having so promptly sent Ithuel in quest of the felucca.  The rocks were next reconnoitred, in order to ascertain what facilities they offered to favor the discharging of the vessel’s stores.  Some of them were high enough to protect articles from the wash of the water, but it is at all times difficult to lie alongside of rocks that are exposed to the open sea; the heaving and setting of the element, even in calms, causing the elevation of its surface so much to vary.  On the present occasion, however, the French found less swell than common, and that it was possible to get their stores ashore at two or three different points.

Raoul now directed the work to commence in earnest.  The lugger carried four boats; viz.—­a launch, a cutter, the yawl, and a jolly-boat.  The second had been sent after the felucca, with a strong crew in her; but the three others were employed in discharging stores.  Raoul perceived at once that the moment was not one for half-way measures, and that large sacrifices must be made, to save the hull of the vessel.  This, and the safety of his crew, were the two great objects he kept before him.  All his measures were directed to that end, The water was started in the lugger’s hold by staving the casks, and the pumps were set in motion as soon as possible.  Provisions of all sorts were cast into the sea, for le Feu-Follet had recently supplied herself from a prize, and was a little deeper than her best trim allowed.  In short, everything that could be spared was thrown overboard, barely a sufficiency of food and water being retained to last the people until they could reach Corsica, whither it was their captain’s intention to proceed, the moment he got his vessel afloat.

The Mediterranean has no regular tides, though the water rises and falls materially, at irregular intervals; either the effect of gales, or of the influence of the adjacent seas.  This circumstance prevented the calamity of having gone ashore at high water, while it also prevented the mariners from profiting by any flood.  It left them, as they had been placed by the accident itself, mainly dependent on their own exertions.