_Peste_! the lugger is so sharp, and has such a trick of going exactly where she looks, that I am afraid she has been crawling up toward her enemy, as the child creeps into the fire that burns its fingers." All hands were soon in motion on board le Feu-Follet, the sweeps were on the point of being handled, when the jigger fluttered and the first puff of the expected western breeze swept along the surface of the waters.

To the seamen it was like inhaling oxygen gas.

Every appearance of drowsiness deserted the people of both vessels, and every one was instantly busy in making sail.

Raoul had a proof into what dangerous proximity to the frigate he had got by the sound of the calls on board her, and the stillness of the sea was yet so great that the creaking of her fore-yard was actually audible to him as the English rounded in their braces briskly while laying their foretopsail aback.
At that moment a second respiration of the atmosphere gave birth to the breeze.

Raoul whistled for the wind, and the lugger moved ahead, gliding toward the frigate.