"
The British ensign was run up, followed by the answering pennant, the
mainsail was lowered, the foresail backed, and the yacht was brought
to, while the Italian ship, which was made out to be the _Cigno_, came
on rapidly.
Mrs. Haxton approached. Stump and whispered in his ear.
"Quite right, ma'am," he nodded. He walked forward and looked at the
crew, mustered in full strength in the fore part.
"Every man, 'cept those on watch, go below,", he growled, "an' mind you
keep there, with al ports closed, until I ax you to show your ugly mugs
on deck."
They obeyed in sulky silence, though they appreciated the reason of the
order. Hence, when, the _Cigno_ stopped her panting engines abreast of
the _Aphrodite_, there were many more pairs of eyes watching from the
yacht than the Italian captain reckoned on.
The warship lowered a boat. Something went wrong with the gear, the
after block jammed, the boat fell and dangled from her davits bows
first, and an officer and half a dozen men were thrown into the sea.
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