The next moment a shot struck the water within a boat's length.
"Heave to, and send a boat on board!" roared a voice almost as loud as the cannon.
"That's a war-ship," cried the captain of the revenue vessel, in alarm; "but she ain't a countryman." Meantime the officers and Israel stopped the cutter's way.
"Send a boat on board, or I'll sink you," again came roaring from the stranger, followed by another shot, striking the water still nearer the cutter.
"For God's sake, don't cannonade us.

I haven't got the crew to man a boat," replied the captain of the cutter.

"Who are you ?" "Wait till I send a boat to you for that," replied the stranger.
"She's an enemy of some sort, that's plain," said the Englishman now to his officers; "we ain't at open war with France; she's some bloodthirsty pirate or other.

What d'ye say, men ?" turning to his officers; "let's outsail her, or be shot to chips.

We can beat her at sailing, I know." With that, nothing doubting that his counsel would be heartily responded to, he ran to the braces to get the cutter before the wind, followed by one officer, while the other, for a useless bravado, hoisted the colors at the stern.
But Israel stood indifferent, or rather all in a fever of conflicting emotions.