It was the boldness of the manoeuvre that saved the lugger; Lyon going out through the pass between Capri and Campanella, about twenty minutes before Pintard brushed close round the rocks, under his jigger and jib only, anxiously looking out for a signal from his captain.

The Frenchmen saw the sloop-of-war quite plainly, and by the aid of their night-glasses ascertained her character; mistaking her, however, for another ship, bound to Sicily or Malta--while their own vessel escaped observation, owing to the little sail she carried, the want of hamper, and her situation so near the land, which gave her a background of rocks.

Clinch had not seen the movements of the lugger after dark, in consequence of his retiring to the village of St.Agata, to seek lodgings, as soon as he perceived that his own ship had gone to sea, and left him and his boat's crew behind.

The following morning, when he made the ship to the southward, he pushed off, and pulled toward his proper vessel, as related.
"Where did you pass the night, Clinch ?" demanded the captain, after they had discussed the probability of the lugger's escape.

"Not on the heights, under the canopy of heaven ?" "On the heights, and under the great canopy that has covered us both so often, Captain Cuffe; but with a good Neapolitan mud-roof between it and my head.