fast, the brig gradually edging a little farther away to the
southward at the same time, by which means she by this time presented so
nearly a perfect broadside view of herself to us that we could see the
end of her gaff, to which we presently saw the British ensign run up.
And now there was no longer any doubt as to her being the _Shark_, for
her figurehead--consisting of a gilt life-size effigy of the fish after
which she was named--could be distinctly made out, glittering under the
heel of her bowsprit. In reply to her challenge we of course lost no
time in running up our own ensign; but beyond doing that there was no
need for further signalling, for it was by this time clearly evident
that she intended to speak us. And presently my little party of nine
came marching aft, bag and baggage, to the lee gangway, where they stood
waiting in readiness to go down over the side, San Domingo depositing
his kit temporarily in the stern-sheets of the longboat while he hurried
down into my cabin to get my few belongings together.

The negro had just returned to the deck with these when the _Shark_,
ranging up within a biscuit-toss of us, hailed:

"Ship ahoy! what ship is that?"

"The _Indian Queen_, of and from London to Bombay, with passengers and
general cargo," replied Carter. "We have an officer and nine men
belonging to you on board, sir. Will you send a boat for them, or shall
we lower one of ours?"

"Is that Mr Grenvile that stands beside you, sir?" asked a voice which
I now recognised, despite the speaking-trumpet, as that of Captain
Bentinck himself.

"Yes, sir," replied I for myself; "and I have nine men with me, the
survivors of the prize crew of the _Dolores_."

I saw the skipper turn to Mr Seaton, who stood beside him, and say
something, to which the other replied. Then the former hailed again.

"Very glad to find that you are safe, Mr Grenvile," he shouted. "You
had better take room and heave-to, and we will do the same. You need
not trouble about a boat; we will send one of ours."

Carter flourished an arm by way of reply, and then gave the order: "Main
tack and sheet let go! Man the main clew-garnets and trice up! Lay
aft, here, to the main braces, some of you, and stand by to back the
mainyard! Down helm, my man, and let her come to the wind!"

At this moment Sir Thomas came up to me and said:

"Grenvile, my lad, come down on to the main-deck with me a moment, will
you? I have a word or two