and the hoist and
spread of those topsails were all very strongly suggestive of the
_Shark_. As I lowered the glass from my eye I happened to glance
forward, and caught sight of Jones and Simpson seated forward on the
topgallant forecastle, smoking their pipes as they animatedly discussed
some topic of absorbing interest, and, catching their eyes, I beckoned
them to come aft to the poop.

"Take this telescope, Jones, and have a good look at that brig," said I,
as they climbed the poop-ladder, hat in hand; "then pass the instrument
to Simpson, and let him do the same. Then tell me what you both think
of her."

The two men took the instrument, one after the other, and ogled the
stranger through it with the greatest intentness; but I could see
clearly that, even before Simpson took over the instrument from the
boatswain's mate, the latter had already arrived at a pretty definite
conclusion with regard to her.

"Well," said I, when at length Simpson had ended his scrutiny and handed
back the instrument to me, "what do you think of her?"

"Why, sir," answered Simpson, "if she ain't the _Shark_ she's own sister
to her; that's all I can say."

"And you, Jones, what is your opinion?" I asked.

"Why, just the same as the carpenter's, sir," answered Jones. "She's
the _Shark_, right enough. I knows the steeve o' that bowsprit too well
to be mistook as to what that brig is. She's the _Shark_; and we shall
have the pleasure of slingin' our hammicks aboard of her to-night!"

"I verily believe you are right," said I. "At all events we shall know
for certain in the course of another half-hour; and meanwhile you can do
no harm by going forward and passing the word for the _Sharks_ to have
everything ready for shifting over, should our surmise prove to be
correct."

"So you really think that yonder brig is your own ship?" remarked
Carter, when the two men had gone forward again. "Well, if it should
prove to be so, I shall be very sorry to lose you, and so will all of
us."

"Lose! Lose whom? I hope we are not going to lose anybody. We have
already had losses enough, this voyage, goodness knows!" exclaimed the
general, emerging from the companion at that moment.

He had evidently caught a word or two of what Carter had been saying,
and wanted to know all about it.

"Why, Sir Thomas, Mr Grenvile believes that brig yonder to be his own
ship, the _Shark_," answered Carter. "And if it turns out that he's
right, of c