opped them, in spite of gesticulations and strenuous
endeavours.

"Messieurs, some one on board, I presume, speaks French?" said the
principal of the two, taking off his cocked-hat, and bowing profoundly,
with a glance towards the poop, where Ada sat.

"_Moi_--I do," answered the colonel, with not the best pronunciation in
the world. "_Que voulez-vous, Messieurs_?"

"I am delighted to find a gentleman with whom I can converse in a common
language. My native German I judged would be hopeless," observed the
officer.

He was a remarkably fine-looking man, with a dark, curling moustache,
and a free, bold manner. Now the colonel had studied German in the
course of his military education, and spoke it well; he therefore
immediately answered in that language.

The officer looked puzzled, and then laughingly said, "Oh! I must
compliment you; but we will speak in French--it is the proper language
for the intercourse of strangers--a mutual ground on which they meet. I
have come to offer the services of my ship's company in putting your
vessel to rights; for I see that she has suffered severely in the gale,
which has just passed."

"Many thanks to you, monsieur," returned the colonel; "but I believe the
crew of the brig are fully competent to perform all the work which is
required; and you see they have already accomplished much of it."

"I see they have been at work; but it will still occupy them much time
to put you to rights," observed the stranger. "You carried on yesterday
and during the night more than I ever saw a vessel do before; and may I
ask why you endeavoured to outsail me as you did yesterday."

"Certainly," returned the colonel; and gave the explanation arranged
with Bowse.

"Ah, it was a pity though, it made me suspicious of you," exclaimed the
officer. "And did you not receive a message by a Sicilian speronara,
which I sent to invite any merchantmen to put themselves under my
protection?"

"Oh! we received it; and though doubts might have occurred, we were
grateful," returned the colonel; then, in a low whisper to Bowse, he
said. "Seize the rascals as soon as you like--we will ask them below."

He then turned back to the officers.

"Will you not come below to take some refreshment? We shall be happy to
offer it also to those in the boat."

The stranger hesitated: at that instant Ada, who had risen to witness
the conference, came to the break of the poop. She had been examining
the counte