xclaimed--

"It is no use now, sare. I sink she must have gone down."

Silence; but as Uncle Paul pressed his nephew's arm Rodd followed him
slowly without a word, while the waiter shook his head and suggested
that they should return to the _cafe_.

The boy gave one glance before stirring, and then uttered a sigh.

"Come, my boy," said his uncle; "perhaps there is no occasion to
despair. It is quite evident that the captain of the brig knows what he
is about, and may escape."

Rodd followed his uncle without a word, the waiter going on before them
to show the devious ways along by the harbour and the old town.

As they drew near the yard Rodd felt a sense of hesitation. "I think I
would rather get back on board the schooner, uncle," he said.

"Oh, but we couldn't do that, my boy," cried Uncle Paul. "I gave an
order for dinner to be prepared."

"Yes, uncle, but I don't feel as if I could eat anything now."

"Why?"

"It seemed so horrible watching that vessel trying to escape under
fire."

"It was evidently not hit, my boy."

"But it was going right out into the face of this storm, and even you
thought she'd be driven ashore."

"Yes; perhaps I have been thinking the worst; but the brig's captain is
evidently a clever sailor and knows what he's about. It is rather
jumping at conclusions to consider that he will let his vessel be
wrecked. Yes, it was nervous work watching a vessel like that; but
there, we must hope for the best, and possibly there is no reason to
despond. Whoever the brig belonged to had good reason for getting away,
and they have succeeded in that. There, come along; let's have our
dinner, and think no more about it. But hallo! What's the matter
here?"

Uncle Paul's remark was caused by a loud angry voice scolding in French
at the waiter who had just led them to the yard door, and it was evident
that the man was in difficulties for absenting himself from his duties
after giving the order that the visitors' dinner should be prepared.

"But I have been in attendance upon the gentlemen," he protested, with
not much truth in his utterance. "I had to take them down to the side
of the harbour to see the firing at the spy. Is everything ready?
Because the gentlemen are anxious for their dinner."

Uncle Paul nudged his nephew, glad of the opportunity to change the
bearing of the boy's thoughts, and shortly after the good meal prepared
in the snug, warm room diverted Rodd's mind from