He was just turning to go when one of the men gave a sudden exclamation.

He turned round again and saw the frigate just appearing from behind the other island.

She was close-hauled, and it was soon evident by her course that she was beating up for the point round which the other two ships had disappeared.
Ralph was puzzled at this; for if she had made out the brig and schooner, her natural course would have been to have made for the other end of the island, so as to cut them off as they sailed past it; whereas they would now, when they gained the extremity of the island, find themselves five or six miles astern of the other two craft.

The French sailors were equally puzzled, and there was a hot argument between them; but they finally concluded that her appearance at that moment must be accidental, and she could not have made out the privateers.

They had just told Ralph to run down with the news to the harbor when a light was thrown upon the mystery; for from the other end of the island from which the frigate had emerged a large schooner appeared.