Part 14 (1/2)
”Merely to blind us, sir, depend on it,” answered thedown upon us”
As he spoke, the stranger at length set his topgallant-sails and royals; but if his intention was to run alongside, it was frustrated
The varying wind, which had been gradually lulling, now on a sudden died away coale had had ti froress, just beyond the range of each other's guns
Those who have cruised in the Mediterranean Sea must have lively recollections of the cal of the vessel without any apparent cause, the loud flapping of the canvas against the er at its inaction, the hot sun striking down on the decks and boiling up the pitch in the seaht for the eyes to endure from the mirror-like surface of the water, and, above all, the consequent feelings of discontent, lassitude, and weariness
Notwithstanding the heat and the motion, and the excessive weariness they felt from their incessant toil, Bowse and his bold crew set e the _Zodiac_ had received during the stor et the shi+p to rights again Although the daet up a new topmast, and another jib-boom out, for both which purposes they fortunately had spare ones on board Bowse had gone for a minute belohere Ti off fro, sir,” said the lass he saw a six-oared gig rapidly approaching; she had in the stern-sheets four persons, three of ere dressed as officers, and wore cocked hats
The passengers were on deck, as well as the twothe boat
”I suspect after all we shall find that ere unnecessarily alarentlemen,” observed the colonel
”I trust they ht”
”I'm afraid there's little honesty either on board the craft or the boat; for I trust little to the Austrian bunting flying at her peak,”
answered Bowse ”Youlady, when you see the et the cutlasses and small arms on deck, and send the people to their quarters--Colonel Gauntlett, I will speak with you, if you please;” and the master led the colonel aside ”I have to propose a bold plan, and a dangerous one, should it not succeed; but if it does, I think our safety is secured The pirate--for pirate the co is, I ah audacity or fool-hardiness, venture on our deck; nohat I propose, if he does, is to entice the rest of the people on board, and to seize thees”
”But suppose they should prove to be really Austrians,” urged the colonel ”It would be an odd way of treating officers who co there are ten men in the boat, it will not be quite so easy either”
”No fear of that, sir,” answered Bowse; ”they venture here because they don't knohat Englishmen are enerate Greeks and Italians, and fancy they can e us as easy; they come to see the condition we are in Now, as I feel certain that boat co without any resistance, I want to ht a little time ”Well,” he answered, ”I do not dislike your plan on the whole, provided we are sure the fellows intend us treachery What part am I to play in it?”
”Why, sir, I want you to hold the chief man of them in conversation, while I talk to another; for I intend to let only two at a tiet them beloe can secure them, and, before the rest find it out, ill invite two more below, and secure the so uard, and to make them suppose we still believe them Austrians”
”But what am I to say about the e carried sail?” asked the colonel
”Why, sir, you see, we did not go out of our course, so you can say that you are in a very great hurry, and insisted onmore sail, while, as the shi+p is bran neas not afraid of pleasing you, particularly as you proot you in before a certain time”
”The story is plausible, but I a into,”
observed the colonel; ”however, I will play ive the else,” replied Bowse ”They will observe the loss of caboose and boats, and also of our bulwarks, it is true; but we must settle them before they have time to consult about it; or we may point it out to theale, and that it would have made us shorten sail if the wind had not dropped”
The plan of the reed to, preparations were made to receive their very doubtful visitors Ada and her attendant were on the poop, with Mitchell to guard theangway, on either side of which were stationed two of the strongestconcealed
The second mate, with six other hands, well armed, had orders to rush aft the moment they were suht remain in her, and on no account to let theements were made, the boat was close to
Bowse examined her carefully The creere dressed as European seaularly, and the uniform of the officers was perfectly correct, as far as he knew
The boat dashed alongside without hesitation, and two of the officers sprung up on deck; the rest would have followed, but the two esticulations and strenuous endeavours
”Messieurs, some one on board, I presu 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_?”