felt sure that she must have been
anchored in some bay whose headland prevented her seeing the
approaching craft; for had she noticed them she would assuredly have
set out to intercept them before they reached the island, which lay
almost dead to windward of them. He was just turning to go when one of
the men gave a sudden exclamation. He turned round again and saw the
frigate just appearing from behind the other island. She was
close-hauled, and it was soon evident by her course that she was
beating up for the point round which the other two ships had
disappeared.

Ralph was puzzled at this; for if she had made out the brig and
schooner, her natural course would have been to have made for the
other end of the island, so as to cut them off as they sailed past it;
whereas they would now, when they gained the extremity of the island,
find themselves five or six miles astern of the other two craft. The
French sailors were equally puzzled, and there was a hot argument
between them; but they finally concluded that her appearance at that
moment must be accidental, and she could not have made out the
privateers. They had just told Ralph to run down with the news to the
harbor when a light was thrown upon the mystery; for from the other
end of the island from which the frigate had emerged a large schooner
appeared. Every sail was set, and her course was directed toward this
other end of the island upon which the watchers were standing. The two
French sailors burst out into a torrent of oaths, expressive of
surprise and alarm; for it was evident that from the course the
schooner was taking she intended to intercept the two privateers, and
engage them until the frigate came to her assistance.

"Run, boy! run for your life!" one of them exclaimed, "and tell the
captain. But no; wait a moment," and he directed the glass upon the
schooner. "A thousand curses!" he exclaimed. "It is the Cerf schooner
the English captured from us six months ago. She is the fastest craft
in these waters. Tell the captain that I am coming after you, but your
legs will beat mine."

Ralph dashed off at full speed, but as soon as he had fairly distanced
the French sailor he began to run more slowly. For the moment he had
so entered into the feelings of his companions that he had identified
himself with them, but now he had time to think, his sympathies swung
round to the English ship. He did not particularly want La Belle Marie
to be captured; for he h