I'm glad to hear it," exclaimed Hanks. "It shows your talents are not
hid under a bushel; and now get away over to Ryde with that note in your
pocket, and explain its meaning in the best way you can."

I jumped into a wherry just then passing, and in less than an hour
landed at Ryde Pier, whence I found my way up to Daisy Cottage. My aunt
was delighted to hear my story, which, I flatter myself, I told with all
the innate modesty of an Irishman. Alice, I thought, blushed her
approval most sweetly; and my uncle congratulated me warmly. I spent a
very pleasant evening, some of the time walking with Alice on the shore,
and resting under the trees, which come almost close down to the water's
edge. I found that I could not dine with Captain Bruff, as we were to
sail next morning for the westward; so I was obliged to be content with
the empty honour of the invitation; and, I dare say, my absence did not
break his heart. I was more sorry to miss seeing Dicky Sharpe again, as
I should have liked to have had another palaver with him; and before our
return the _Cynthia_ would probably have sailed.

CHAPTER NINE.

A CHASE--A PRIZE--CAPTURE A FRENCH SMUGGLER--OUR PRISONER'S POLITENESS--
DO NOT TRUST A GREEK, EVEN WHEN POLITE.

At the hour I was asked to dine with Captain Bruff we were running out
at the Needles, with a fresh breeze and a thick, drizzling rain, which
called pea-coats and sou'westers into requisition. We cruised about for
three or four days without seeing anything suspicious; not a tub afloat,
nor a craft with a smuggling look about her. At last we found something
to give us employment. One evening a mist settled down over the water,
which, though there was a good breeze, was perfectly calm. Although the
night was in no ways dark, yet the density of the fog prevented our
seeing beyond the bowsprit end, or even so far. It was just such a
night as a smuggler delights in. The cutter was on her old ground, off
Portland Bill. We were slipping through the water at the rate of some
five or six knots an hour, when Stretcher, who was standing close to me,
exclaimed, "Ah! see there, sir; there's a craft of some sort right away
to leeward, trying to steal off from us." I looked, and could just
distinguish the shadowy form of a sail through the mist. The Commander
was called, and the cutter was instantly kept away in chase. Jack
pronounced her to be a wherry; but I thought her something much larger.
The win