report of a cannon-shot resounded through the air.

Awoke and startled by the explosion, Becker's wife and Mrs. Wolston
came running towards them. As for the girls, their guardian angel had
too closely enveloped them in its wings to admit of their sleep being
disturbed.

"The sloop on the coast!" said Frank; "for the sound is too distinct
to come from a distance."

"Unless Willis has got upon Shark's Island," objected Fritz, running
towards the terrace, armed with a telescope. "Just so; he is there, I
see him distinctly; he is recharging our four-pounder."

"God be praised! you relieve my conscience of a great burden," said
Ernest, placing his hand on his breast.

"He is going to discharge it," cried Fritz--boom. Then a second shot
reverberated in the air.

"If Captain Littlestone be within hearing of that signal, he will be
sure to reply to it." said Becker. "Listen!"

They hushed themselves in silence, each retaining his respiration, as
if their object had been to hear the sound of a fly's wing rather than
the report of a cannon.

"Nothing!" said Becker sadly, at the expiration of a few minutes.

"Nothing!" reiterated successively all the voices.