CHAPTER XII.
"A justice of the peace, for the time being, They bow to, but may turn him out next year; They reverence their priest, but, disagreeing In price or creed, dismiss him without fear; They have a natural talent for foreseeing And knowing all things;--and should Park appear From his long tour in Africa, to show The Niger's source, they'd meet him with--We know." HALLECK.
Raoul was not mistaken as to the manner in which they were obtained and the means employed by his enemies.

The frigate had found one of the feluccas loaded with naval stores, including some ten or fifteen barrels of tar; and it instantly struck Griffin, who was burning to revenge the defeat of the morning, that the prize might be converted into a fire-vessel.

As the second lieutenant volunteered to carry her in, always a desperate service, Cuffe gave his consent.

Nothing could have been better managed than the whole duty connected with this exploit, including the manner in which our hero saved his vessel from destruction.

The frigate kept between her prize and the lugger, to conceal the fact that a boat remained on board the former, and when all was ready the felucca was apparently permitted to proceed on her voyage.
The other two prizes were allowed to go free also, as cloaks to the whole affair.