"Who are you? the captain asked, as he stepped ashore on the little wharf. You are English by your speech."
"I am English, sir. I was on board a fishing boat in the channel when we were run down by one of those privateers in the dark. I believe the fisherman with me was drowned, but I clung to the bobstay and was got on board. She was on her way out here and had no opportunity of landing me. She only arrived here two days before you came up."
"You are not a fisherman?" the captain said abruptly.
"No, sir; my mother is living at Dover, and I was at school there. I lost my father, who was an architect, some years ago."
"And who is this who is with you?"
"He is a sailor in the brig I came out in, and has been extremely kind to me during the voyage, and kept the others from persecuting me."
"How is it he is left behind?" the captain asked.
"He was round the other side of the island watching the schooner," Ralph replied, "and the others sailed away without him;" for Ralph had agreed with Jacques that it was better to say nothing about the signalling.
"Have you done any fighting since you were on board the privateer?" the captain asked sternly.
"No, sir. We have only exchanged shots with one ship since we sailed. She fired one broadside and the privateer drew off a good deal damaged. Another was surprised by night, but I took no part in it. I don't know what she was laden with or what was her name."