"Well aimed, but not quite enough elevation," exclaimed I to Gowland, who had charge of the deck, and who had called me a moment before. "Now, who is the fellow, and what does he mean by firing at us?  Is he a Frenchman, think you, and does he take us for a slaver--which, by the way, is not a very extraordinary mistake to make?  We had better show him our bunting, I think.  Parsons," to a man who was hovering close by, "bend on the ensign and run it up to the gaff-end."