“That’s a signal to stop,” said Engineer Serko.
“Precisely,” remarked the Count d’Artigas.
“We shall have to lay to.”
“Then lay to.”
Captain Spade went forward and gave the necessary orders, and in a few minutes the vessel slackened speed, and was soon merely drifting with the tide.
The Falcon’s boat pulled alongside, and a man in the bows held on to her with a boat-hook. The gangway was lowered by a couple of hands on the schooner, and the two officers, followed by eight of their men, climbed on deck.
They found the crew of the Ebba drawn up in line on the forecastle.
The officer in command of the boarding-party—a first lieutenant—advanced towards the owner of the schooner, and the following questions and answers were exchanged:
“This schooner belongs to the Count d’Artigas, to whom, I presume, I have the honor of speaking?”
“Yes, sir.”