f the old quartermaster, who was the oracle on
such occasions.

"Why, sir, I should say, off the land; it looks clearer there away than
it is out here."

As the old man delivered himself of this opinion, he turned his one open
eye towards the point he indicated: for, though he had two orbs, and
they were piercers, he never used more than one at a time--we youngsters
used to suppose, to give each alternately a rest.

As he spoke, the fog once more opened a little.

"And, what do you say to yonder craft?" continued the skipper.

The old man's right eye surveyed her intently before he answered--

"I thought I knowed her, sir. As sure as we're alive she's the _Polly_,
with Jan Johnson on board."

How he arrived at the latter conclusion we did not stop to consider.
The words had an electric effect on board.

"You are right, Davis--you are right!" exclaimed our commander; then, in
a tone of vexation, "And we have only one boat to chase her. If there
comes a breeze, that fellow will sneak alongshore, and get out of our
way. He calculated on being able to do so when he remained there, and
no doubt has information that the revenue boats belonging to the station
are sent off in other directions."

Every glass was now turned towards the direction where the smuggler was
seen; for you must remember the mist quickly again hid her from us. Our
skipper walked over to where the carpenter was employed in putting the
boat to rights; but soon saw that there was a good day's work or more
before she could be made to swim.

"It will never do to let that fellow--escape us!" he exclaimed briskly.
"Mr Robertson," addressing his senior officer, a passed midshipman--an
oldster in every sense of the word I then thought him,--"pipe the gig's
crew away, with two extra hands, and let them all be fully armed. Do
you take charge of the ship; and if a breeze gets up, press every stitch
of canvas on her, and stand after the lugger. That fellow may give us
some work; and I intend to go myself."

Having given these orders, he dived into his cabin, and quickly
reappeared, with his cocked hat on and his sword by his side.

I belonged to the gig.

The boat was, as you may suppose, quickly ready. The order was given to
shove off, and away we pulled, with hearty strokes, in the direction of
the lugger. The fog for some time favoured our approach towards the
spot where we guessed she was to be found, for we could no more see her
than the p