Now, what have they to do with a Neapolitan felucca, England being a sworn friend of Naples ?" Raoul made no reply to this, but stood watching the movement in silence.
The reader will readily enough understand that Ithuel's remark was elicited by the appearance of the boats, which, five in number, at that instant pulled off from the frigate's side and proceeded steadily toward the felucca.
It may be necessary now to mention the relative positions of the parties, the hour, and the precise state of the weather, with a view to give the reader clear ideas of the events that succeeded.

Le Feu-Follet had not materially changed her place since her jib-sheet was first hauled over.

She still lay about a league a little north-of-west from the residence of Andrea Barrofaldi, and in plain view of it; a deep bay being south of her and abeam.

No alterations had been made in her canvas or her helm; most of the first being still in the brails and the latter down.

As the head of the frigate had been kept to the westward for the last hour, she had forged some distance in that direction, and was now quite as near the lugger as was the promontory, though nearly two miles off the land.