They were encouraged, too, by seeing the boat from the stranger making towards them. Presently three or four bullets together flew close to their ears, and fell into the water ahead.
“Pull on! pull on!” cried Bill; “the fellows fired to vent their spite. They are going to give up the chase.”
He looked round as he spoke, and, sure enough, the stern of the boat was seen.
The Frenchmen were rowing back to the shore.
The boat of the stranger, instead of steering, as she had been, towards the raft, was now seen directing her course after the French boat, the crew of which were evidently straining every nerve to escape.
“Hurrah!” cried Jack, standing up and waving his cap, “that’s an English frigate.”
“No doubt about it,” exclaimed Bill; “I can see her ensign blowing out;” and he could scarcely refrain from throwing up his cap, but remembered that it might chance to fall overboard if he did.
Directly afterwards a gun was heard, fired by the frigate.
It was a signal to recall the boat.
She would have had a long pull before she could over take the Frenchmen.