From mouth to mouth ran the whisper that the English were showing their heels; and in a moment these poor devils, who owed all their misery to France, were pulling like madmen.

Jeers rose from the deck.
"If Monsieur the Englishman does not strike within two minutes, down he goes to the bottom." "The idiot, to expose his stern!" "On the whole, it is just as well that _La Merveille_ is so far behind.

We shall have all the glory to ourselves--eh, my children ?" On board the frigate Captain Barker said four words only: "Take the wheel, Jemmy." Captain Runacles stepped to it and the steersman gave place.
In truth the hunchback, though this was his first acquaintance with a galley, knew well enough that she would strike for the frigate's stern as the weakest point.

This was precisely what he wished her to do.
Captain Runacles stood with his hand on the wheel and waited, glancing back over his shoulder.
Captain Barker stood by the taffrail with one eye upon the galley and his face turned in profile to his friend.

His right hand was lifted.
The Commodore had made all his dispositions.