“I would never have done that,” said the captain.  “I knew they would not risk being defeated in their object when they saw so excellent a prize thrown at them.”

“They are setting the sail,” observed the officer.

“Yes,” responded the captain.  “The gentlemen will find one of their craft anchored in Gibraltar Bay to-morrow morning, and may be the whole three.  I do not like the look of it; both the wind and sea are making.  I hope we may be able to reach to the westward of Trafalgar Bay before it gets worse.”

Instructions were given to have the wounded seaman brought to the saloon, and it was found that he was not seriously injured.  After the wound was dressed, orders were given to set the regular watch.  Little progress was made during the night, owing to the heavy west wind.  By six the following morning she was just a little west of Cape Spartel, and the wind had increased to a heavy gale.  The engines had to be slowed down in order to save the two little vessels from being dragged under water; indeed, as it was, their hulls were sometimes buried.  The captain saw that he was in for a tragedy if the craft were kept in tow.  He did not like to slip them, as it meant certain capture, and while he was thinking out the wisest and best course to pursue, the problem was solved by the people aboard the feluccas letting go the tow-line, and the last that was seen of them was that they were heading towards the Spanish coast with small storm sails set.

Captain S——­’s vessel had a severe passage, and on arrival in Falmouth he went to an hotel.  In the course of the evening he was relating the incidents of the voyage, as was the custom with orthodox captains on arrival in port, and of course he included his experiences with the Rock-scorpions and their feluccas.  Before he had completed the tale, the proprietor interposed by reading as follows from a shipping paper:—­

“Information was conveyed to the Spanish Customs Authority that a British steamer had run out of Gibraltar Bay with three feluccas laden with manufactured tobacco destined for Cadiz.  She was to be intercepted at Tarifa by the coastguards, and the craft with their cargo were to have been seized.  When she got to Tarifa the coastguards fired at her.  The third lighter was slipped, boarded by the officials and their men, and taken behind the Rock, when it was discovered on removing the hatches that she was laden with stones.  The other two parted their tow-ropes, and were driven through the Gut and captured.  These were laden with tobacco.  The stone-laden craft was obviously intended as a decoy, and but for the heavy gale that came on, the other two would have succeeded in reaching their destination.”

A few months later, Captain S——­ entered Gibraltar Bay, and was boarded by the chief commissioner of the last enterprise, accompanied by a friend, who was introduced as being engaged in “our” trade.