"How so?"
"Hang it, he didn't swim off to Saint Honorat; his people were probably concealed somewhere: tired of not seeing him return, they will have set out to seek him, and picked him up where I put him to bed; he will probably have got off with gnawing the bit for two or three hours."
"Well, that is possible, Michael, and even probable. Where are you taking us?"
"Zounds, you are the commander here, Captain; we will go wherever you please."
"I will tell you, but first let us land the Major, for I fancy he wishes to be free of our company as much as we do of his."
At this moment Bowline's voice was heard.
"Hilloh, Michael," he shouted, "we have a large vessel to windward."
"Confusion!" said the sailor, "Has she hoisted her colours?"
"Yes; she is a Norwegian."
"That will be a good opportunity for you, Major," said the Count.