yself to be in a position of some little difficulty. I
have very little doubt in my own mind that these two ships belong to our
enemies, but I am not _sure_ of it; and to attack a vessel belonging to
a friendly power would be a most deplorable accident. On the other
hand, if we wait until daylight before doing anything, we run the risk
of losing a good many of our men; for I should not feel justified in
taking the frigate into the midst of so many unknown dangers, and an
attack with the boats in broad daylight would give them ample time to
make all their preparations for giving us a hot reception. I am
inclined to think that the crews of those two craft will have no
expectation of hearing from us to-night; and I have therefore determined
to send in the boats to reconnoitre. You, Mr Flinn, will have charge
of the expedition, and will take the launch. Mr Vining will take the
first cutter, and Mr Martin the second, while Mr Chester, in the gig,
must go ahead and endeavour to steal alongside the strange craft without
giving the alarm, find out their nationality--while you lie off at a
distance--and return to you with his report. If they are friends, there
is no harm done; and if they are enemies, do as you think best."

A few words of advice followed, and we then returned to the deck. The
boats were lowered, a twelve-pound carronade placed in the bows of the
launch, the fighting-crews paraded, and their weapons examined to see
that everything was in fighting order, and then we trundled down over
the side and shoved off.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

THE ROCCA ISLETS.

The night had grown somewhat darker within the last hour, a few light
clouds having come up to windward, spreading themselves over the sky and
obscuring a good many of the stars; so that by the time we had been away
from the ship about a quarter of an hour it was impossible to see
anything of her except the light which twinkled at her gaff-end, and
which might easily have been mistaken for a star.

We rounded the south-west angle of the island; and soon after, wards
found ourselves pulling up a narrow channel between the island and the
reefs, in perfectly smooth water, save for the slight undulations of the
ground-swell. We reckoned that the strangers were now about two miles
distant, so with muffled oars, and in the strictest silence, we paddled
gently on, Mr Flinn leading in the launch. After about half an hour of
this work, the launch ceased pull