“Do you want to see your wives and families again?” he asked. “Look there! How smooth the water is ahead. The wind is falling, and the frigate will soon be becalmed. She’ll not think it worth while to send her boats after us. Come! out with the sweeps, and we shall soon draw out of shot of her. Look there! now her topsails are already flapping against the masts. Be of good courage, my sons!”
Thus incited, the crew got out the sweeps.
Jack and Bill helped them with as much apparent good-will as if they had had no wish to be on board the frigate.
The little vessel felt the effects of the powerful sweeps, and, in spite of the calm, continued to move ahead.
Again and again the frigate fired at her, but she was a small object, and each shot missed.
This encouraged the French crew, whose spirits rose as they saw their chance of escaping increase.
Farther and farther they got from the frigate, which, with the uncertainty from what quarter the wind would next blow, was afraid of standing closer in shore.
By nightfall the cutter, by dint of hard rowing, had got safe into harbour.
When Dame Turgot and Jeannette heard what had occurred, they expressed their delight at seeing their young friends back.
“We must not let you go to sea again, for it would be a sad thing to hear that you had been captured and shot for being deserters,” said Jeannette.