"Do they mean to board us?" said Murray. "Depend upon it, the man-of-war has boats on the lookout, and they're rowing with muffled oars, ready to overhaul the escaping party; that is, if any of them have got loose." "That's it, depend upon it," said the mate. "They'll hail us directly. They must see our lights." There was silence then for a few moments, during which two or three of the crew, attracted also by the noise they had heard, came over to their side. Then came the plash of an oar; and, starting into activity, as if moved by some sudden impulse, Murray shouted: "Boat ahoy!" "Ahoy, there!" was the answer. And then the rowing was heard plainly, as if those who handled the oars had thrown off the secrecy of their movements. "It's the man-of-war's boat," said the second mate. "What ship's that?" was now asked from the darkness, but in anything but the loud hearty hail of a sailor. "Sarah Ann, port of London," answered the mate. "Are you from the sloop?" "Ay, ay," was the reply. "Bring a lantern here, and swing over the side," said Murray uneasily; and one of the anchor-lights was brought, and sent a feeble ray, cutting as it were the dense curtain that hung around. Then the bows of a boat were seen swiftly advancing, and for a moment Murray gazed at its occupants with a mixture of astonishment and terror; but the next instant he had seized one of the capstan-bars, and stood ready. "Here, Smith, Norris, Jackson, be smart!" he shouted, "or we shall lose the ship. Convicts!" That last word seemed to electrify the men into action; and as the boat grated against the side of the heavily-laden vessel, just beneath the fore-chains, man after man armed himself with the capstan-bars, and stood ready by the first mate. The lantern was dashed out directly; and it was evident that men were climbing up the side by means of boat-hooks hitched into the fore-chains. Now followed a struggle--short, sharp, but decisive; for first one and then another convict was knocked back into the boat as he tried to gain a foothold. There was a little shouting, a few oaths; and then, apparently satisfied that the reception was too warm, and that they were fighting against odds, the occupants of the boat shoved off, just as the ship's crew was reinforced by the captain and men who had gone below. "That was a narrow escape," said the captain. "Mr Murray, I sha'n't forget to mention this to the owners." "Suppose we keep a sharp look-out for the rest of the night? They may come back, unless they find some other vessel less on the alert." "Oars again," whispered one of the men. They listened attentively, and once more could plainly make out the soft smothered dip of oars floating across the water. Ten minutes passed, and then, as the crew stood with beating hearts waiting for the next assault, there came another hail out of the darkness. "What ship's that?" "Never you mind!" answered the captain roughly. "What boat's that?"