“And why the devil didn’t he do it?  Two or three heavy shot would have given her a stronger dose than she could bear.”

“You know, Captain Cuffe, it has all along been your wish to take her alive.  I thought it would tell so well for the ship to have it to say she had caught le Feu-Follet, that I opposed the project.  I know Mr. Winchester hopes to get her as a reward for carrying her, himself.”

“Aye, and that would make you first.  Well, sir, even if you didn’t sink her it was no reason for letting her escape.”

“We could not prevent it, Captain Cuffe.  I had a lookout set upon her—­one of the very best men in Porto Ferrajo, as everybody will tell you, sir; and I made the signals of the lamp and the blue-lights, as agreed upon; and, the ship answering, I naturally thought all was as it should be, until—­”

“And who burnt the rockets off here where we are at this moment?  They deceived me, for I took them to be signals of their presence from the Weasel or the Sparrow.  When I saw those rockets, Griffin, I was just as certain of the Few-Folly as I am now of having my own ship!”

“Yes, sir, those rockets did all the mischief; for I have since learned that, as soon as the first one was thrown, Master Yvard tripped his kedge and went out of the bay as quietly as one goes out of a dining-room when he don’t wish to disturb the company.”

“Aye, he took French leave, the b—­y sans culotte” returned the captain, putting himself in a better humor with his own pun.  “But did you see nothing of all this?”

“The first I knew of the matter, sir, was seeing the lugger gliding along under the rocks so close in that you might have jumped aboard her; and it was too late to stop her.  Before those lazy far nientes could have pricked and primed, she was out of gun-shot.”

“Lazy what?” demanded the captain.

“Far nientes, sir; which is a nickname we give these siesta-gentry, you know, Captain Cuffe.”

“I know nothing about it, sir, and I’ll thank you always to speak to me in English, Mr. Griffin.  That is a language which I flatter myself I understand, and it’s quite good enough for all my wants.”

“Yes, sir, and for any man’s wants.  I’m sure, I am sorry I can speak Italian, since it has led to this mistake.”

“Poh—­poh—­Griffin, you mustn’t lay everything to heart that comes wrong end foremost.  Dine with me to-day, and we’ll talk the matter over at leisure.”

CHAPTER IX.

     “Now in the fervid noon the smooth bright sea
     Heaves slowly, for the wandering winds are dead
     That stirred it into foam.  The lonely ship
     Rolls wearily, and idly flap the sails
     Against the creaking masts.  The lightest sound
     Is lost not on the ear, and things minute
     Attract the observant eye.”