You like ze sea ?" "Yes," said Vince; "both of us do." "And you can reef and furl ze sail ?" "Yes, we've often been in a boat." "Brava! it is good; and, aha! ze brave cook go to prepare ze cabin for ze dinnaire.

You sall bose be my compagnie _cet_--to-day." Just then Vince caught sight of one of the lugger's boats, and noticed that it was particularly broad and punt-like in make, evidently so that it should carry a big load and at the same time draw little water--a shape that would save it from many dangers in passing over rocks, and also be very convenient for running in and landing upon the sands.
This boat was very heavily laden with bales, carefully ranged and stacked, while the boat's gunwale was so close to the surface that a lurch would have caused the water to flow in.
But the men who managed her seemed to be quite accustomed to their task; and after a sharp look directed at them by the skipper, he paid no more attention, but walked away.
It was different, though, with the boys; who, having ideas of their own connected with escaping from their position, watched the approach of the boat with intense curiosity, wondering how it could be rowed so easily against a current which ran with such tremendous force.
"I can't make it out," said Vince, as the boat came closer, and apparently with very little effort on the part of the men after they had passed out by the opening by which the prisoners had been brought on board.
"How is it, then ?" said Mike.
"I suppose it's because they know all the currents so well.

It's very hard to see; but I think that, as the water rushes round this cove and goes right across, most of it passes through the openings into our bay and makes all that swirling there." "Of course it does," replied Mike.

"I can see that." "Well, you might let me finish," said Vince.

"All this water flows right across." "You said that before." "And then," continued Vince, without noticing the interruption, "part of it which there isn't room for at the openings strikes against the rocks, and can't get any farther." "Of course it can't." "Well, it must go somewhere: water can't be piled-up in a heap and stay like that; so it's reflected--no, you can't call it reflected--it's turned back, and forms another stream, which flows back this way." "It couldn't be," said Mike shortly.
"Well, that's the only way I can see, and that boat has come as easily as can be.