ary to send the boats ahead to
tow. Were I to run the risk of losing the ship, the crew, and even the
officers, would mutiny--these privateersmen are difficult characters to
deal with; as it is, they will be discontented at not obtaining the
stores and recovering their shipmates. My first lieutenant, also, is on
shore. If I send you away, I have no guarantee that the stores will be
delivered, or that my people will be restored to me."

"You shall have the word of honour of two Irish gentlemen," answered
Captain O'Brien, "that should yonder vessel not prove to be the
_Champion_, or any other man-of-war, everything shall be arranged as you
wish; the stores and men shall be sent off to you, and your first
lieutenant restored, if we can find him."

Still Captain Thurot hesitated. "You believe that ship out there to be
a British sloop of war?" he asked.

"I feel almost certain that she is the _Champion_; that she is a large
vessel of your own class, and carries eighteen guns of heavy metal; and,
moreover, I believe that if you venture to engage her she will take you.
If you follow my advice you will do your best to escape from her."

While this conversation was going on, the larger boats were being
lowered, and were now sent ahead to tow. There was a light air from the
westward; the stranger's courses were rising above the horizon in the
south-east, just clear of Hook Tower. Could the _Coquille_ once got out
to sea, she might either by running before the wind round the
south-eastern point of Ireland, or by keeping close-hauled stand along
the southern coast towards Cape Clear.

"I confess that I am unwilling to part with you till the last moment,"
said Captain Thurot, "but my courtesy will not allow me to detain the
young lady and to expose her to the risk she would have to run. I will
therefore give you my small boat, if you will take charge of her and
convey Miss Ferris and her father to the shore."

"With all my heart, and I am much obliged to you," exclaimed Captain
O'Brien. "If you will order the boat to be lowered, I will get them up
on deck. The sooner we are off the better; the tide is sweeping out of
the harbour, and we shall have a hard pull of it, at all events."

He hurried below, and conveyed the satisfactory intelligence to his
friends. By the time that they were on deck the dinghy was alongside,
the courses were hauled up, and the men ahead ordered to cease pulling.
Captain O'Brien stepped int