Therefore, although Ralph ran fast enough to keep well ahead of the sailor, he made no effort to keep up a greater rate of speed than was necessary for this.  As soon as he reached the shore a boat rowed off from the brig to fetch him.  He saw with satisfaction that although the men were all on board, no preparations were made for getting under way at once; and, indeed, the captain would have no anxiety for his own ship, as he would know that the privateers, if they saw the frigate coming out to meet them, would sail right away from the island, and the frigate would be sure to pursue until out of sight of land.

“What news, boy?” the captain asked as the boat came close alongside.  “Is the frigate in chase of the others?”

“Yes, sir,” Ralph replied; “the frigate and a schooner are both in chase.”

“Which way are they bearing?”

“The privateers do not know they are chased sir.  The frigate did not show round the island over there until the schooner and brig were hidden behind the end of this island.  She made toward the western end, and the schooner is making for the eastern end.  The sailors who came up told me to tell you that the schooner is the Cerf, one of the fastest vessels out here.”

The captain uttered an exclamation of dismay, which was echoed by those standing round him.

“Row out through the entrance,” he shouted to the coxswain of the boat, “and warn the others of the danger!  Tell them to make straight out.  If they come in here, we shall all be caught in a trap together!”

The oars dipped in the water, but before the boat was fairly in motion there was an exclamation, for the head sail of the schooner glided in past the projecting cliff.  A moment later the whole vessel came into view.

“Bring the boat back alongside!” the captain shouted.  “I will go on board her at once.  She may get out in time yet!”

As the schooner rounded up her sails came down, and she headed straight toward the brig.  The captain of the Belle Marie stood up in the stern-sheet of the boat, shouting and waving his hands and gesticulating to them to get up sail again.  Those on board the schooner looked on in surprise, unable to guess his meaning.

“There are two English cruisers, one coming round each end of the island!” he shouted as he approached the schooner.  “Get out again if you can, otherwise they must catch us all in here!”

The captain in the schooner at once saw the emergency, and roared out orders.  The boats were all lowered at once, and the men tumbled on board.  Hawsers were lowered from the bows, and they began at once to tow her head round, for there was not a breath of wind in the land-locked harbor.

“How much time have we got?” the captain asked as the schooner’s head came slowly round.

“I don’t know,” the other captain replied.  “It’s a question of minutes, anyhow.  Ah, here is the brig!” and the boat dashed forward and he gave similar orders to those that had been given to the schooner.