tern, I cast adrift the one
we had "borrowed," and left her to take her chance of drifting ashore
and finding her way once more into her proper owner's hands.

Shortly after leaving our anchorage we passed close to leeward of a long
rakish-looking lateener, on board which, as ill-luck would have it, an
anchor-watch was being kept. I suppose the circumstance of our getting
under way at so unusual an hour must have attracted attention on board
this craft, at all events the casting adrift of the shore-boat had been
observed; and as we approached we were hailed from her deck with an
inquiry as to whether we were aware that one of our boats had gone
adrift.

"Ay, ay," replied Giaccomo, "we know it; it is all right: we shall pick
her up presently, but we do not care to tack just now in this light wind
for fear of-- Diavolo! hold your tongue, you son of a boiled monkey, or
I will let daylight into you on one side and out on the other."

The latter part of this speech had been addressed to our prisoner, who,
encouraged by the close proximity of the two vessels, had without a sign
of warning lifted up his voice and shouted with all the power of his
lungs,--

"_Perfidie! nous som--_" The remainder of the sentence had been choked
back by the iron grasp of Giaccomo's hand upon the lad's throat, the
dagger being flashed before his eyes and the threat hissed into his ears
at the same moment.

But it was enough, the mischief had been done. As we glided past the
craft's stern we saw the man on watch dart to the companion and
disappear, returning to the deck in less than a minute, accompanied by
another individual, whose fluttering white garment sufficiently
indicated that he had come direct from his berth without waiting to
observe the decencies of ordinary life. He, too, hailed us, but we
wasted no breath in attempting to reply, fully aware that nothing we
could say would allay the suspicion which had been aroused. Instead
therefore of shouting back, and possibly attracting the attention of
other craft, we devoted all our energies to trimming our canvas to the
best advantage, and packing upon the cutter every rag we could set.

"Per Baccho!" ejaculated Giaccomo between his set teeth, addressing the
author of the mischief, and emphasising his remarks with a smart prod of
the knife in the most fleshy part of that misguided individual's person,
"I have a great mind to slash your throat open, and then launch you
overboard as a