Keep quiet--we shall see." Raoul understood his respite to be a thing of doubtful termination.
Under the most favorable results, an English prison remained in perspective, and then the other side of the picture offered the image of Ghita to his eye! He was in a tumult of feeling, but, accustomed to self-command, no exclamation escaped him.
"When, cher Etooelle, _when_ ?" he asked, his whisper being tremulous, in spite of every effort to command himself.
"Now--_too-der-sweet--( tout-de-suite)--_the boat is at the gangway, and old Giuntotardi is in her--they are rigging a chair for the gal.
Aye--there she swings off!--don't you hear the call ?" Raoul did hear the whistle of the boatswain, which was piping "lower away" at that very moment.

He listened intently, as he lay stretched upon the gun-tackles; and then he heard the splash in the water, as the boat was hauled closer to, in order to be brought beneath the chair.

The rattling of oars, too, was audible, as Ghita left the seat and moved aft.

"Round in," called out the officer of the deck; after which Carlo Giuntotardi was left in quiet possession of his own boat.
The moment was exceedingly critical.

Some one, in all probability, was watching the boat from the deck; and, though the night was dark, it required the utmost caution to proceed with any hopes of success.