tarboard bow," reported the mate of the watch.

My glass was on the capstern, and I ran for it, and went forward to
examine the vessel, although my duty as signal midshipman was ended at
sunset.

"What do you make of it, Mr Keene?" said the officer of the watch.

"I think she is a man-of-war; but it is so dark, that I cannot make her
out very clearly."

"Is she standing this way?"

"Yes, sir, under top-sails and top-gallant-sails, I think."

The officer of the watch went down to report to the captain, who had not
yet turned into his cot. Captain Delmar had been informed that a Dutch
frigate was expected at the island, but not until the following month;
still we had no reason to suppose that there were any of our frigates
down in these latitudes, except those lying in the harbour at Curacao.
The wind was light, about a three knot breeze, and there being no moon
till after twelve o'clock, it was very difficult to make out what she
was. Some said she was a two-decked vessel. The captain went down to
look at his private signals for the night, and before he came up I was
all ready with the lanterns.

"Two lights over one in a triangle; be quick, Mr Keene."

"Aye, aye, sir," replied I.

The lights were soon hoisted at the peak, but as they could not well be
seen by the other vessel, as we were standing towards her, we went about
and hove to across her hawse. For a quarter of an hour she continued to
stand towards us without noticing the signals; at last the captain said,
"They must be all asleep on board of the vessel."

"No, Captain Delmar," replied I, keeping my telescope on the vessel,
"they are not all asleep, for I saw lights on the main-deck through the
bow-ports. I see them again now."

"So do I," said the first lieutenant.

"Then we'll beat to quarters, Mr Hippesley," rejoined the captain.

The men were summoned to quarters, and hammocks piped up and stowed in a
very short time, the guns cast loose, and every man at his post (but the
ports not opened), waiting the coming down of the stranger, now about a
mile distant, when suddenly she rounded to the wind on the same tack
that we were, and set her royals and flying-jib.

"She does not answer our signals," observed the captain: "I suspect by
that and her present manoeuvre she must be an enemy."

"I have no doubt of it, sir," observed the first lieutenant; "an English
frigate would not behave in that way."

"Open the ports and get up the fighting