Farther out, beyond the bristle of reefs and islets which stretch in a menacing line to the north of Herm, another stately vessel was manoeuvring in advance of-- "One--two--three--four--five--six," counted the boy, "and each one as big as herself." Every now and again came the sullen boom of her guns and answering booms from her pursuers.
"Six to one!" breathed the boy, quivering like a pointer.

"And she's terrible near the rocks.

Bon Gyu! but she'll be on them! She'll be on them sure," and he jumped up and danced in his excitement.

"You can't get her through there!--Ay-ee!" and he funnelled his hands to shout a warning across three miles of sea in the teeth of a westerly breeze.
"Silly!" said the girl from the turf where she sat with her hands round her knees.

"They can't hear you!" "Oh, guyabble! Oh, bon Gyu!" and he stood stiff and stark, as the great ship narrowed as she turned towards them suddenly, and came threading her way through the bristling rocks, in a way that passed belief and set the hair in the nape of the boy's neck crawling with apprehension.
"Platte Boue!" he gasped, as she came safely past that danger.