The captain shook his head.
"You might go on board some ship, if one brings up at anchor anywhere near us, Bob. If you got detected, there, we would take her and rescue you. But that is a different thing to letting you go ashore."
Presently the sails of two fishing boats were seen, coming out from beyond a low point, three miles to the east.
"I suppose there is a fishing village, there," the mate said. "I am glad they are no nearer."
He examined the boats with a glass.
"They are working out with sweeps. I expect they hope to get a little wind, when they are in the offing."
Just as they were at breakfast the second mate, who was on deck, called down the skylight:
"There are three craft to the west, sir. They have just come out from behind the point there. They are bringing a little breeze with them."
"What are they like, Mr. Crofts?"
"One is a polacre, another a xebec, and the third looks like a full-rigged craft; but as she is end on, I can't say for certain."