Then he passed down to the cable himself, directing his companions to hand him the rope-end of the shank-painter, which he fastened to the cable by a jamming hitch.

This took half a minute; in half a minute more he was on the felucca's forecastle again.

Here the chain was easily passed through a hawse-hole, and a knot tied, with a marlinspike passed through its centre.

To pass the fire on the return was now a serious matter; but it was done without injury, Raoul driving his companions before him.

No sooner did his foot reach the bows of le Feu-Follet again than he shouted: "Veer away!--pay out cable, men, if you would save our beautiful lugger from destruction!" Nor was there a moment to spare.