"No," he said, "there isn't. Perhaps they have gone a little farther into the shade." There were no figures moving about, no Cynthia, no Bo's'n, no Minion. One never knew what Lacelle would be up to, so I did not worry myself at not seeing her. I turned again to face the Skipper, and all at once I perceived a strange vessel coming rapidly toward the coast, and as I looked, the French flag which she bore was supplemented by another. I could not believe my eyes. I did really rub them and look again. Yes, it was true. The Jolly Roger fluttered for a moment at the masthead, and as suddenly was lowered to the rail. It confirmed my suspicions as to the pass to which the island had come, that a pirate craft could sail openly along the coast in broad daylight, displaying her signal of murder and death! That it was a signal to some one in waiting on the shore, I could not hesitate to believe. Then, in what terrible danger were we and our party from an assault both on the land and on the water. We were, indeed, between the devil and the deep sea.
"Captain," said I, scrambling hastily over the middle seat, "take the other pair, for God's sake!"
"What's the matter with the man?" exclaimed the Captain, as I tumbled hastily into the bows and picked up the extra pair of oars. "Just when one begins to feel peaceful and calm, communing with his Maker, as it were, you——"
"You'll commune with your Maker sooner than you care to, Captain," said I, "if you don't pick up those oars. That pirate's come back, or else it's another one. I saw the Roger——"
The Skipper had by this time turned about, deliberately removed his coat, and taken up the oars.
"What! that vessel? She's no more a pirate than you are."
"I tell you I saw the crossbones as plain as I see your back. Pull, Captain, for the love of God!"
The Skipper did bend to his oars, but his mutterings were proof that he had little confidence in my judgment or eyesight.
"Just thinking peacefully of my latter end——"
"You'll have your latter end closer in view, Captain," said I, "if you don't pull like hell."