I perfectly acquainted with her I
should be unable to answer your questions, monsieur," I replied.

"Well, then, favour me by going aloft with my telescope, and you'll
then, by looking down on her deck, be able to tell me whether you
recognise any of those on board, or have to your knowledge seen the
frigate before."

From his manner I believed he had not an idea that I suspected the
frigate to be the _Liffy_.

I willingly agreed; and, taking the glass, went aloft. All my doubts
were at an end. I at once made out Captain Macnamara walking the
starboard side of the quarter-deck with Mr Saunders. On the opposite
side, I distinguished several of my messmates by their figures. Some of
the men were forward, but the greater number were below, and I could see
no signs of any intentions of getting under way. I waited a
considerable time, and heartily I wished for a pair of wings, that I
might fly over the masts of the other vessels, and pitch down on her
deck. No sight could have been more tantalising. I descended at last,
and returning the telescope to Dubois, said--

"I confess frankly that I know the frigate. She is the one to which I
belong."

"Is she a fast vessel?" inquired Dubois.

"She is considered so, monsieur," I answered.

"Faster than this brig?" he asked.

"Certainly, unless in a very light wind," I said. "If you expect to be
chased, you have very little chance of escape from her, I should think."

"I must hope for the best," he said. "There's a fine breeze out of the
harbour, and we may be off again before the frigate finds we are moving.
We have the advantage of being concealed from her sight, and she dare
not fire a gun or send a boat after us, even should she wish it, till
we're three leagues outside the harbour."

Dubois spoke in a confident tone, as if he did not think that there was
the slightest chance I should even try to make my escape. I was
dreading all the time that he would ask me to give my word not to do so.
He didn't, however, appear to think of that. In a short time La Touche
came back, and reported, as I knew he would, that the frigate didn't
appear to be preparing to sail. Scarcely had he come on board than the
wind began to drop, till it became a stark calm. I saw the officers
exchange looks with each other as they observed the dog vane hanging
right up and down. It was very certain that we could not move, for we
had not boats sufficient to tow the brig out of the h