“That is so,” Jacques agreed.  “If you give me half an hour to think it over I will give you an answer.  It’s come upon me sudden-like.  I will talk it over with the boy.  I suppose I can tell him, captain?”

On regaining the deck Jacques looked about for Ralph.

“Come and sit along with me out on the bowsprit, lad, I want to have a private talk with you.”

Somewhat surprised Ralph followed his friend out on to the bowsprit.

“Now, boy,” he said, “I have got a bit of news to tell you that will be pleasant to you.  That’s the first thing; and the next is, I want your advice.  You are a sensible young chap, you are, although you are but a lad, and I should like to know what you think about it.”

“Well, what’s the good news, Jacques?”

“The good news is this; you are likely, before this time to-morrow, to be with your friends.”  Ralph gave such a start of delight that he nearly slipped off the bowsprit.

“How is that Jacques?  It seems too good to be true.”

“This is the way of it,” Jacques said.  “The three vessels are all going to cut and run to-night.  That schooner of yours is round the other side of the island, and we want to be sure she is stopping there, then there will only be the frigate to deal with, and in these light winds and dark nights we ought to be able to give her the slip; but the only way to be sure the schooner keeps the other side is to watch her.  So one man is to be placed on the cliff above her, and at two o’clock in the morning, if she is still there, he is to light a fire well back from the cliff, so that the light will not be seen by her.  Another man is to be on the top of the hill, where we were together with a lantern.  You see, we can just see the top of the hill from here.  When he sees the fire he is to show a light three times.  If he sees it answered here he will know it’s all right, and his work is done; if not, of course he shows the lights again until it’s answered.  Now, they are going to leave you as one of the two signallers, and of course all you will have to do will be to wait for a bit, and then come down and join your friends.”

“That is capital,” Ralph said.  “Nothing could be better.  Now, what is the other matter that you want my advice about, Jacques?”

“Well, you see, it will be awkward for the other man, for he will either have the choice of coming down and giving himself up and being carried off as a prisoner, or of stopping on this island perhaps for years till a French ship happens to come along; for once off the Marie will continue her cruise to the Indian seas, and the other two will make straight for France.  Of course there is another course which might be taken.  A boat might be hidden away for him, and he might go for a cruise on his own account and take the chance of being picked up.