eve I recognise her now that I come to see her distinctly.
If I am not mistaken she is the British man-o'-war schooner _Gadfly_,
and her presence yonder affords Captain Tourville an opportunity to
fulfil his promise of transhipping me. He promised me that, should such
a case as this occur, he would give me a boat in which to transfer
myself; and that small dinghy of yours will be just the thing."

"Y-es," returned Leroy meditatively. "He promised you that, did he? I
remember your telling me so. But, unfortunately for you, he never said
a word upon the matter to me, and he is far too sick just now to be
worried about that or anything else. I am very much afraid, therefore,
Monsieur Fortescue, that you will be obliged to let this opportunity
pass; for, you see, I could not possibly take it upon myself to release
you and give you even the dinghy without first receiving definite
instructions from the captain."

"Oh, come, I say, Leroy, you surely don't mean to insinuate that you
doubt my word, do you?" I remonstrated. "I hope you don't pretend--"

"I do not pretend or insinuate anything," Leroy retorted, somewhat
impatiently; "I merely state the fact that I have received from Captain
Tourville no such instructions as those you mention, and without such
instructions I dare not comply with your wishes."

"Ha, ha!" jeered Marcel. "You will have to curb your impatience,
Monsieur Englishman. It is evident that we are not yet to lose the
pleasure of your society."

To this I replied nothing, but turned remonstratingly to the chief mate,
urging him to at least do me the favour to go down and see if the
captain chanced to be awake, and if so, to put the matter to him. But
he would not listen to my suggestion, insisting that, even if Captain
Tourville happened to be awake, he was far too ill to be troubled over
any such matter. Suddenly it came to me that, despite all his past
apparent friendliness, he was, for some unknown reason, anxious that I
should not be released. Seeing, therefore, the utter uselessness of
further argument, I desisted, and turned away, bitterly disappointed.

Not, of course, that with Leroy's refusal all hope of deliverance was to
be abandoned. By no means. So long as the _Gadfly_ remained in sight
there was always a chance; for if I knew anything of Lieutenant Peters,
he was not the man to let us go without giving us an overhaul, and then
my chance would certainly come. It was the duty of