THE SCHOONER ‘ EBBA” 67

anchor, descend the estuary, and manceuvre so as to gain
one of the exits of the Sound.

Then the authorities ordered the Falcon and the Customs
steamers to follow the Zdéa, to stop her before she entered
one of the channels, to subject every part of the vessel to
the severest examination. She was not to be granted free
pratique until they were convinced that the missing men
were not on board.

Surely Count d’Artigas could not be unconscious that
he was under suspicion, that his yacht was being specially

watched by officers and agents.
But if he had been aware of this, would he, with his
superb disdain and haughty bearing, have condescended to
care ?

About three o’clock in the afternoon the schooner,
which was cruising within a mile of the passage, performed
the evolutions necessary to keep the middle of the
channel,

After having visited some fishing boats then going out
to sea, the Mascon waited at the mouth of the passage.
No mere sailing vessel could have escaped the pursuit of
a man-of-war, and if the schooner did not obey the injunc-
tion to heave-to, one or two shells would soon have
brought her to reason.

At that moment a boat containing two officers and ten
sailors left the cruiser and crossed the £dda’s course.

Count d’Artigas, from his place in the stern, watched.
this manceuvre with indifference, while he calmly lighted
a cigar.

F 2