Away beyond it, a mile or so distant, a sail was standing out to sea.

"There she go," he said.
"There!" The Frenchman gazed and stared, his face growing white.

The man's wicked temper awoke, and turned to vent itself upon the messenger.
"And where have you been that you come here only now with this?
Answer me!" The half-caste shrank terrified before his fury.

His explanation, if he had one, was paralyzed by fear.

Levasseur took him by the throat, shook him twice, snarling the while, then hurled him into the scuppers.