uncomfortable. This
will all be cleared up. Well, Chubb, I am afraid you were right; at any
rate the King's officer seems to be quite of your opinion."

"Yes, sir, but wait a bit," said the captain. "I suppose they'll get us
close in, and I shouldn't be at all surprised if we find, when we get to
the other side of the island, that they've got the brig snug in shelter
there."

"What, captured too?" cried Rodd excitedly.

"Yes, sir. This sloop of war is kept here to cruise about the island
and keep strangers off. That's what she's for."

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO.

I HAVE SINNED--FORGIVE.

That same afternoon the sloop of war was lying close inshore, with the
brig and schooner near at hand, when a barge put off from the
landing-place bearing the Governor and other officials, who were
received at the gangway of the sloop with the customary salute, and
shortly afterwards a little informal court was held, with the prisoners
present, while the First Lieutenant of the sloop gave evidence to the
effect that just after dark he had observed, from the anchorage where
the sloop lay, a light, evidently intended for a signal, exhibited in a
peculiar way from the masthead of some vessel.

He had noticed the brig now lying at anchor some distance in the offing
early in the evening, but an adverse wind had prevented the sloop from
going out. This light appeared at intervals during the next two hours,
and on reporting the matter to the captain it was considered
sufficiently suspicious for the brig from which it evidently came to be
overhauled. This was done during the night; the prisoners brought in;
and they were here to give an account of themselves.

Upon being asked if there was any difficulty in overhauling and seizing
the brig, which appeared to be well manned and armed, the lieutenant
smiled and said no, for the simple ruse of answering the brig's signal
by the exhibition of lights in a similar way brought her close inshore,
and then in the darkness the rest was easy, for it fell perfectly calm,
and the sudden advance in the darkness of three well-armed boats made
resistance vain.

"They offered no resistance, then?" asked the Governor.

"Oh yes," was the reply; "a very brave resistance; but they were
overpowered by numbers and brought in."

As this evidence was given the Count and his son stood together, the
former looking calm and dignified, the latter defiant, and when asked
what defence he had to make for his