All these questions, which he asked himself in turn, necessarily remained unanswered, and for that very reason augmented his anxiety.
For a moment he thought of laying an ambush in the straits of Nevis and St. Eustache, the two islands between which St. Kitts is situated, capturing the Spanish vessel, and obtaining by torture the information the monk had refused to give him.
But he gave up this plan almost immediately; he had pledged his word of honour, and would not break it for anything in the world.
In the meanwhile, night had set in, and the canoe was still advancing.
Montbarts steered for the lugger, which was anchored a short distance from land.
When the light boat was under the vessel's counter, the filibuster made his engagé a sign to lay on his oars, and shouted in a loud voice—
"Lugger, ahoy!"
At once, a man whose black outline was designed on the dark blue horizon, leant over.
"Boat ahoy!" he shouted.
"Is that you, Bowline?" Montbarts continued.