“But how about the two signallers?” one of the other captains said.  “They would be left behind and might not get the chance of rejoining us again.”

“I have thought of that too,” Captain Vipon, said.  “I have an English lad on board whom I picked up in the channel.  He is a smart lad, and has been working as one of the crew.  He would of course be glad to stay behind, because it will give him the chance of rejoining his friends.”

“That would do capitally.  But how about the other man?  You see, if he showed himself he would be made prisoner and sent to England; if he didn’t show himself he might be on this island for years before he got a chance of joining a French ship.  It would need a high bribe to induce anybody to run such a risk as that.”

This was so evident that there was silence for two or three minutes, then Captain Vipon spoke again.  “I have a man who would be more likely to do it than any one else I think, because he has taken a strong fancy to this young English boy.  He is a good hand, and I don’t like losing him; still the thing is so important that I should not hesitate at that.  Still we must offer him something good to run the risk, or rather the certainty of imprisonment.  I propose that his name shall be put down on the books of all three ships, so that if he ever gets back to France again he will have a fair certainty of a good lot of prize money, for it will be hard luck if two out of the three of us do not manage to get back safely.”  The other captains agreed to this.

“He will be here in half an hour,” Captain Vipon said.  “The men were sitting down to a meal when I came away, and I ordered them to make their way back as soon as they had done.  If he refuses, the only other way I can see will be for all the men to cast lots, when, of course, whoever stays would get his three shares as we agreed.”

Half an hour later the twenty men arrived from the other side of the island.  As soon as they came on board Captain Vipon called Jacques into the cabin and told him that it would be necessary to leave two men behind, explaining the duties they would have to perform.

“Now Jacques,” he said when he had finished, “I thought that perhaps you would be more likely than any other man on board the three ships to volunteer for this work.”

“I volunteer!” Jacques said in astonishment.  “What should make you think of such a thing, captain?”

“For this reason, Jacques:  I have settled to leave the English lad here as one of the signallers.  Of course he will gladly undertake the job, as it will enable him to join his friends when they land; and as you like him and he likes you, he might be able to make things easy for you.  In the second place we have determined that the name of whoever stops shall be borne on the ship books of all three vessels to the end of their cruise, so that there would be a good bit of money coming even if only one out of the three ships gets back, and enough to set you up for life if all three get back safely.  Of course you may have a spell of imprisonment; but it is likely that one at least of the ships may be caught going out to-night, and if it happened to be ours you would get the prison without the prize-money.”