Very well, then, _an revoir_!"

Now, to be left on deck, practically alone, was a bit of luck that I had
not dared to hope for; and the fact that I had been, coupled with what
Leroy had said about the boats, gave me an idea upon which I immediately
acted. We were still lying broadside-on to the _Gadfly_, and I had not
the least doubt that on board her a constant watch was being kept upon
the barque; glancing round hurriedly, therefore, and observing that all
hands on the forecastle were busy with their breakfast, I slipped over
the side into the mizzen chains, where I could stand without being seen
from inboard, and, removing my jacket, so that my white shirt-sleeves
might show up clearly against the barque's black side, I forthwith began
to semaphore with my arms, waving them up and down for about a minute to
attract attention. Then, without knowing whether or not I had been
successful, I proceeded to signal the following message:

"_La Mouette_, slaver, armed with fourteen 28-pound carronades and four
6-pounders. Carries one hundred and seventy men. Attack with your long
thirty-two; boats too risky!"

Then, donning my jacket again, I returned inboard just in time to see
Marcel's head appear above the level of the poop.

"Hillo!" he exclaimed; "I was wondering what had become of you. What
have you been doing over the side? Considering whether you should
attempt to swim across to the _Gadfly_?"

"Yes," answered I boldly, seizing at once upon the suggestion thus
given. "But I have thought better of it," I continued. "There are too
many sharks about. Look there!" and I pointed to a dorsal fin that was
sculling lazily along half-a-dozen fathoms away.

The man looked at me suspiciously for several seconds, then walked to
the side and looked over into the chains, but of course there was
nothing to be seen. Then, muttering to himself, he returned to the
cabin, presumably to finish his breakfast.

He had scarcely disappeared, and I was looking round for the telescope,
when a flash of flame and a cloud of white smoke suddenly burst from the
schooner's forecastle, and presently a 32-pound shot dashed into the
water within half-a-dozen fathoms of our rudder. "Good shot, but not
quite enough elevation!" muttered I, delighted at this indication that
my message had been noted and was being acted upon; and then came the
sullen _boom_ of the gun across the water. I went to the skylight and
quite unnecessarily repor