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Updated: June 8, 2025
"Is it not often the custom of pirates, after they have robbed a vessel, to set her on fire to avoid discovery?" I asked casually. I scarcely know why I put the question, except that my thoughts were naturally running on the Emu. "Oh yes, it may be so," said Van Graoul, who heard the observation; "but still I don't think it." "What do you say?
There was an elasticity in my spirits, a buoyancy in my step, which I had never before experienced, as I walked the deck of the Fraulein, as she lay in the roads just before getting under weigh. "There is a loaded boat coming off, and I think I see Lieutenant Jeekel in her," said Captain Van Graoul, who had been looking through his glass towards the shore.
When Van Graoul saw this, he shook his head. "So I did think," he remarked. "That craft is not to be caught so easily. If what is said of her is true, there is a worse fate for her in store than we have prepared for her." Though the remark was made without reflection, I believe, I could not help thinking that there was much truth in it.
Just at that moment Van Graoul went up to Fairburn. "I think we may have a chance of winging her, if we fire steadily," he said. "We'll try it, at all events. But I hope that it will not calm the breeze," said Fairburn, issuing orders to get the long gun ready. The gun was pointed so as to clear the rigging.
Van Graoul made her out to be a brig; and as she drew near, we saw that she was a small, low black vessel, with the American ensign flying at her peak. My heart beat with an extraordinary sensation of doubt and fear, as I saw her. "Fairburn," I exclaimed, touching his shoulder, "what do you think of that craft? Does she not answer the description of the Emu?"
For two hours we stood on; sometimes the channels between the islands widened, and here we crossed broad sounds, but did not attempt to go down any of them, as their entrances, Van Graoul said, were full of dangerous shoals.
"Yes; if I did not know that we were in deep water, I should have thought she had struck on a shoal," replied Van Graoul. "Are you certain that we are in deep water?" asked Fairburn with emphasis. "We'll see what the lead says." Van Graoul smiled. "I am not offended, Fairburn, though some might be; but you'll find I'm right."
"It is one great puzzle," observed Van Graoul sagaciously, as he re-lit his pipe, and puffed away as before. Again all was quiet for the space of an hour; and we, of course, fancied that the engagement had been concluded, and that we should have no chance of helping our friends. The general opinion was, that a large force of Malay pirates had been attacked by some European ships of war.
They now and then are fond of making a disturbance," said Barlow, the second mate. "No, no; there was no chance of anything of the sort," answered Van Graoul. "That firing, if firing it is, comes from the sea, I tell you." The evening was now approaching, and still the mystery was not solved.
We were armed all this time, it must be remembered; but we could not venture to fire on the boat, for although we had no doubt that the brig in the offing was the Emu, and that she belonged to her, we had not the proof the law requires. The moment Van Graoul saw the pirate's boat turn tail, he slipped his cable, and, making sail, stood after us. We had thus two chances.
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