Peter instantly went and reported what he had heard to Mr Gale, who was officer of the watch. After listening for some time he could hear no sound, and seemed to doubt the correctness of our assertion. The boats had probably ceased pulling, for a purpose at which we could only then conjecture. At last the sound of the oars reached Mr Gale's ears also. "There's something in this," he exclaimed. "Jack, go and call the captain." Captain Helfrich was on deck in an instant. "The crew of some vessel which has foundered, and taken to their boats," suggested the mate. "From what quarter does the sound come?" asked the captain, listening attentively. "Visitors from the brig we saw last night," he cried out. "Depend on it, they come to us with no good intention." His experience in the West Indies and elsewhere had taught him to be prepared for any such emergency as the present. He was not above being prepared, and he knew that the greatest folly is to despise an enemy. "Turn the hands up, Mr Gale. Get the arm-chest open, and the guns loaded and run out. We must be ready. No noise, though: if anyone intends to surprise us, it is as well that we should surprise them instead." The watch below were instantly on deck, and in a few minutes every preparation was made for the reception of an enemy. Still we could not see any boats, but the louder sound of oars in the rowlocks convinced us that they were approaching. Again the sound ceased. "They are not quite certain of our position," observed Mr Gale. "If they were people escaping from a wreck, and not aware that a vessel is near, they would have pulled steadily on." "You are right," said the captain. "Have a torch ready to heave in among them, that I may make certain who they are before I give the word to fire. It won't do to run the risk of hurting friends; but when once you hear the word, my men, blaze away with all your might. If they are enemies, they will not be such as will give us quarter, however loudly we may cry for it." A murmur ran round among the people, to signify that we would obey the captain's orders. The atrocities committed of late years by the Algerines, and the subjects of the Emperor of Morocco, had made those people the dread of all sea-going people, and gained them a proportionate amount of hatred.