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Updated: June 28, 2025
We at once trundled down over the side into our cockleshell of a boat, and, getting on board the "Mouette" with all speed, roused up the anchor and dodged about well in view of the admiral, keeping a sharp lookout for the "whiff" in the mizzen-rigging, which was our especial signal for service.
She surged up into the wind, her canvas flapping so furiously that it threatened to shake the mast out of her; her lee- gunwale appeared above the surface, and placing my feet against the tiller I pressed it gradually over, helping her round while stopping her way as little as possible; a sea rushed up and struck her on the port- bow, sending her head well off on the other tack, the jib-sheet was promptly hauled over, the mainsail filled, and as we hurriedly scrambled over to the other side of the deck and secured ourselves anew with lashings round our waists, the "Mouette" plunged forward on the larboard tack, looking well up to windward and heading about due north.
"Ah!" he chuckled, "Monsieur Leroux would have almost forgiven us for running away with his `Mouette, had he been here to see what a shameful beating she has given the `Vigilant. The story is sure to leak out through some of the lateener's people, and poor old Lieutenant Durand, who commands her, will not dare to show himself ashore at Ajaccio, he will be so laughed at."
Among other things I learned that she was named La Mouette; that she was of three hundred and sixty-four tons register; that she mounted fourteen twenty-eight pound carronades on her main-deck and four six-pounders on her poop; that she carried a complement of one hundred and seventy men; and that she was then bound into the river Kwara for a cargo of slaves to be conveyed to Martinique, or Cuba, as circumstances might decide.
By this time I had completely recovered, not only from the effects of the snake-bite at which my companions seemed greatly astonished but also from the hardship and privation which I had experienced during the latter part of my voyage aboard La Mouette, and had begun to think very seriously of how I was to effect my escape from those who held me captive.
While the interest was at its highest, it happened that Mr Annesley had occasion to go on shore, and he took a passage with me in the little "Mouette." He had never landed on the island before, and so, as we ran down toward the creek, I pointed out to him the various points of interest in the landscape.
More, he wanted coffee. And perhaps a raspberry ice-cream soda with it. There was one place he knew of.... Dashing down to the Paquis, he just caught a mouette for the Eaux Vives jetty. From there to the ice-cream café was but a short way. He hurried to it, and soon was enjoying the comfort of coffee, a raspberry ice-cream soda, and meringues.
It was the duty of the ships of the Slave Squadron to stop and examine the papers of every ship encountered in those waters, and I was certain that Peters would not be likely to make an exception in our favour; while, if Leroy resisted, as, of course, he would well, it would simply mean that La Mouette would be captured.
It was just growing dusk when the boats, having cast off from the towing hawsers, pulled into the cove and grounded on its steep shingly beach. We anchored the "Mouette" about a cable's length from the beach, landed our passengers, and watched them fairly out of sight on the San Fiorenzo road, when Bob and I leaped into our dinghy and were pulled ashore.
Briefly informing them, however, that I had been ordered to rejoin the frigate, and postponing all further information until a more convenient season, I hurried down over the side, and stepping into the cockleshell of a dinghy pulled on board the "Mouette," where master Bob received my narration with a show of sympathy which thinly veiled his exultation at being left in sole command of the cutter.
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