The latter surely did not imagine that she could force a passage in spite of the cruiser, or escape from a vessel propelled by steam.

Besides, had she attempted such a foolhardy trick, a couple of shots from the _Falcon's_ guns would speedily have constrained her to lay to.
Presently a boat, manned by two officers and ten sailors, put off from the cruiser and rowed towards the _Ebba_.

When they were only about half a cable's length off, one of the men rose and waved a flag.
"That's a signal to stop," said Engineer Serko.
"Precisely," remarked the Count d'Artigas.
"We shall have to lay to." "Then lay to." Captain Spade went forward and gave the necessary orders, and in a few minutes the vessel slackened speed, and was soon merely drifting with the tide.
The _Falcon's_ boat pulled alongside, and a man in the bows held on to her with a boat-hook.

The gangway was lowered by a couple of hands on the schooner, and the two officers, followed by eight of their men, climbed on deck.
They found the crew of the _Ebba_ drawn up in line on the forecastle.
The officer in command of the boarding-party--a first lieutenant--advanced towards the owner of the schooner, and the following questions and answers were exchanged: "This schooner belongs to the Count d'Artigas, to whom, I presume, I have the honor of speaking ?" "Yes, sir." "What is her name ?" "The _Ebba_." "She is commanded by?
--" "Captain Spade." "What is his nationality ?" "Hindo-Malay." The officer scrutinized the schooner's flag, while the Count d'Artigas added: "Will you be good enough to tell me, sir, to what circumstance I owe the pleasure of your visit on board my vessel ?" "Orders have been received," replied the officer, "to search every vessel now anchored in Pamlico Sound, or which attempts to leave it." He did not deem it necessary to insist upon this point since the _Ebba_, above every other, was to be subjected to the bother of a rigorous examination.
"You, of course, sir, have no intention of refusing me permission to go over your schooner ?" "Assuredly not, sir.

My vessel is at your disposal from peaks to bilges.