an brig, and brought her
to; a boat was sent for the captain, who, when he came on board, was
interrogated by Captain Delmar, as to his having seen or heard of any
French vessel on that coast. As the conversation took place on the
quarter-deck, and I was officer of the watch, I can repeat it.

"Well," replied the American through his nose, "I reckon there is a
Frenchman in these parts?"

"Have you fallen in with her?" inquired Captain Delmar.

"Well, I may say I have; for I lay alongside of her in Cartagena when I
was taking in my cargo of hides. You haven't such a thing as a spar as
will make me a pole top-gallant mast, captain, have you?"

"Is she large or small?"

"Well, captain, I don't care whether the spar be large or small; I've
two carpenters on board, and I'll soon dub it down into shape."

"I inquired about the vessel--I did not refer to the spar," replied
Captain Delmar, haughtily.

"And I referred to the spar, which is my business, and not to the
vessel, which is no consarn of mine," replied the American captain.
"You see, master, we have both our wants; you want information, I want a
spar: I have no objection to a fair swop."

"Well," replied Captain Delmar, rather amused, "give me the information
and you shall have the spar."

"That's agreed."

"Send for the carpenter, and desire him to get out a small spar, Mr
---," said Captain Delmar to the first lieutenant.

"Well, captain, that looks like business, and so now I'll go on. The
Frenchman is as large as you; may be," said he, looking round the deck,
"he may be a bit larger, but you won't mind that, I suppose."

"Did you leave her in port when you sailed?"

"I reckon she was off two days before me."

"And how many days is it since you sailed?"

"Just four days, I calculate."

"And did you hear where she was going to?"

"Yes, I did, and I've a notion I could put my finger upon her now, if I
choosed. Captain, you haven't got a coil of two-inch which you could
lend me--I ain't got a topsail brace to reeve and mine are very queer
just now. I reckon they've been turned end for end so often, that
there's an end of them."

"You say that you know where the vessel is--where is she?"

"Captain, that's telling--can't I have the two inch?"

"We have not a whole coil of two-inch left, sir," said the master,
touching his hat. "We might spare him enough for a pair of new braces."

"Well, well, I'm reasonable altogether, and if so be you ha