“And what do you think of them?” the colonel asked him.
“Why, sir, that they serve to confirm my suspicions, and those of my mate, that the felucca is not honest, and that there is a good deal of mystification going on somewhere or other.”
“Then you don’t believe the story of the Austrian brig having sent the felucca to us?” asked the colonel.
“Not a bit of it, sir; and my firm opinion is, that if the rascals had found us unprepared, she would have been alongside us before now. She had more people on board her than when she left Malta harbour this morning, though where they came from I can’t say; and I’m positive as to the craft, though the young man denied having been there for many a day. I can’t make it out.”
“But what does this paper mean about the polacca brig, think you?” asked the colonel.
Bowse thought for some time.
“I have it, sir!” he at length exclaimed, clapping his hand to his head. “That’s the brig those fellows wanted to make us suppose an Austrian man-of-war. If they had taken less trouble we might have been taken in.”
“And what do you intend to do, Captain Bowse? Remember I am under your orders, in the way of fighting on board here. If you ever come on shore when there’s anything doing, I will show you how we manage things there.”
The colonel spoke in a good-natured lively tone, as he always did the moment there appeared a prospect of fighting.
“Keep our guns loaded, and trust to Providence, sir,” replied the captain.