he continued, "I am in
want of a considerable amount of fresh provisions and stores for my
ship, and with which I feel sure you will be ready to supply me. I
have, however, to remark that I require them immediately, and I shall
feel obliged to you if you will send on shore and order them to be
brought off without delay. From among so many honourable merchants I
have no doubt that I can be speedily provided with the whole amount."

"Will you furnish us with a list of your wants?" asked Mr Ferris, "and
I and my friends will gladly send them on board as soon as we return on
shore."

"I do not mistrust your good intentions," answered Captain Dupin, "but
as time is precious to me, and I should be sorry to lose you, I must
request you to despatch orders to your managers and clerks to send off
the stores while you remain on board."

"I thought so!" exclaimed the old sea-captain, bringing his fist down on
the table. "What fools we were to be so caught! May I ask you, Captain
Dupin, how long you have carried the British ensign at your peak?"

"Since I came in sight of Waterford harbour," answered Captain Dupin.
"To confess the truth, I have practised a slight ruse on you; but be
assured that I would not cause you or your friends, who are now so
happily amusing themselves on deck, the slightest annoyance beyond the
detention of a few hours--indeed, only until the stores you send for
arrive."

"Is this vessel, then, not a Jersey privateer, as we were led to
suppose?" asked Mr Ferris, with some little trepidation in his voice.

"No, sir; I must own that she is the _Coquille_, belonging to Dunkirk,
and that I am Captain Thurot, of whom you may possibly have heard,"
answered the captain.

"Thurot! the most daring smuggler that ever crossed the Channel,"
whispered Captain O'Brien, in a low voice, to his neighbour; "we are
caught like rats in a trap. He is as cunning as he is daring, and will
keep us in durance till he gets what he wants."

CHAPTER SIX.

CAPTAIN THUROT DEMANDS A SUPPLY OF PROVISIONS--THE MERCHANTS SEND, FOR
THEM--CAPTAIN THUROT'S HISTORY--THE DISCOVERY--MOST OF THE GUESTS
ALLOWED TO TAKE THEIR DEPARTURE--MR. FERRIS, WITH ELLEN AND CAPTAIN
O'BRIEN, REMAIN AS HOSTAGES--THE CHAMPION APPEARS IN THE OFFING--CAPTAIN
THUROT ALLOWS THE HOSTAGES TO GO ON SHORE IN THE DINGHY.

The astonishment and dismay of the worthy burghers of Waterford, who had
thus been so unsuspectingly entrapped on board the French p