there's two of 'em there, sure enough, close together--a good
deal too close together to be up to any good, to my thinking," was the
reply.

"What do you think they are, then?" asked George.

"One of 'em is a privateer--or a pirate; and t'other is her prize, in my
opinion," answered Bowen.

"Then we'll make their further acquaintance," said George. "Perhaps if
we trim the canvas a bit slovenly, and act as though we had not seen
these craft, we may coax down towards us the privateer, or whatever she
is."

"That'll be the best plan, no doubt," acquiesced the chief mate; and he
proceeded forthwith on a tour round the decks, easing up a brace here,
and a halliard there, with a touch also at the sheets and bowlines, by
way of insuring an agreeable and harmonious result. When he had
finished, the brig looked like a collier, and her speed had decreased
from eight to a little over five knots.

"There," said Bowen to George, with an admiring glance aloft at his own
handiwork, "I think that'll do pretty well; we look helpless enough now
for anything. Masthead, ahoy!"--to the lookout aloft--"what about the
strangers now?"

"They've dropped alongside one another, sir," was the reply.

"Very well; keep your eye upon them, and let us know when you see any
change in their movements."

The stereotyped "Ay, ay," by way of reply, was duly given, and then
George and Bowen, side by side, and with hands folded behind them, began
to trudge fore and aft, from the main-mast to the taffrail, patiently
awaiting the course of events.

About a quarter of an hour elapsed, and then the lookout hailed again--

"On deck, there! The barque has cast off, and is standing down towards
us. They're busy getting the stunsails upon her now, sir."

"All right; stay where you are, and let's hear, if you see anything
worth reporting," replied Bowen.

A few minutes later another report was made to the effect that the other
sail--a full-rigged ship--had filled, and was standing to the northward
under all plain sail. That was the last news from either of the
vessels, and, the barque shortly afterwards becoming visible from the
deck, orders were given to clear the brig for action, and the lookout
was ordered down on deck.

There was a capital working breeze, and not much sea; it was,
consequently, not very long before the barque had raised her hull above
the horizon. As soon as she was fairly in view, George brought his
telescope to bear upo