The well-known speed and light draught of that vessel have rendered her almost indispensable to me.

When the vessel is free, they must rise upon the enemy, and make for the nearest of our ports without delay.

Upon this I insist, and place confidence in your established courage and management, to accomplish it to my satisfaction." "Your orders are clear enough," said Caryl Carne.

"What reason can you give, as an officer of the Republic, for disobeying them ?" Desportes looked at his ship in the distance, and then at the sea and the sky, with a groan, as if he were bidding farewell to them.

Carne felt sure that he had prevailed, and a smile shed light, but not a soft light, on his hard pale countenance.
"Be in no rash haste," said the French sea-captain, and he could not have found words more annoying to the cold proud man before him; "I do not recognise in this mandate the voice of my country, of the honourable France, which would never say, 'Let my sons break their word of honour!' This man speaks, not as Chief of a grand State, not as leader of noble gentlemen, but as Emperor of a society of serfs.