"No, captain; on the contrary, they exactly resemble the fellows who have been chasing us ever since the day before yesterday, regular Cardinal's bloodhounds, I'll wager."
The stranger appeared to reflect. "Are they far off?" he at length asked.
"Speak, Bowline, my boy," said Michael, turning to his comrade, "and don't shiver your sails, the captain is hailing you."
"Well, then, Captain," said Bowline, a sturdy Breton, with a crafty look, "I sighted them over the starboard quarter at about four o'clock; I spread all my canvas to distance them, and I fancy I have left them four or five cables length in the rear."
"In that case we have about an hour before us?"
"Yes, about, Captain," Bowline replied.
"That is more than we want; listen, my lads, and swear on your honour as sailors to obey me."
"You may be quite sure we shan't fail, Captain," they answered.
"I reckon on you."
"Shiver my topsails, we know that," Michael replied.