ght too common at
sea. But that a vessel displaying signals of distress should be
carrying all sail, and running away, or attempting to do so, from
another making to relieve her--above all, from a ship bearing the
British flag--this _is_ strange. And just thus has the polacca been
behaving--still is; sailing on down the wind, without slacking
haulyards, or lessening her spread of canvas by a single inch!

Certainly the thing seems odd. More than that--mysterious.

To this conclusion have they come on board the warship. And, naturally
enough; for there is that which has imbued their thoughts with a tinge
of superstition.

In addition to what they see, they have something _heard_. Within the
week they have spoken two vessels, both of which reported this same
barque, or one answering her description: "_Polacca-masted, all sail
set, ensign reversed_."

A British brig, which the frigate's boat had boarded, said: That such a
craft had run across her bows, so close they could have thrown a rope to
her; that at first no one was observed on board; but on her being
hailed, two men made appearance, both springing up to the main-shrouds;
thence answering the hail in a language altogether unintelligible, and
with hoarse croaking voices that resembled the barking of muzzled
mastiffs!

It was late twilight, almost night, when this occurred; but the brig's
people could make out the figures of the men, as these clung on to the
ratlines. And what seemed as surprising as their odd speech was, that
both appeared to be clothed in skin-dresses, covering their bodies from
head to foot!

Seeing the signal of distress, the brig's commander would have sent a
boat aboard; but the barque gave no chance for this--keeping on without
slacking sail, or showing any other sign of a wish to communicate!

Standing by itself, the tale of the brig's crew might have been taken
for a sailor's yarn; and as they admitted it to be "almost night," the
obscurity would account for the skin-clothing. But coupled with the
report of another vessel, which the frigate had afterwards spoken--a
whaler--it seemed to receive full corroboration. The words sent through
the whaler's trumpet were:--

"_Barque sighted, latitude 10 degrees 22 minutes South, longitude 95
degrees West. Polacca-masted. All sail set. Ensign reversed.
Chilian. Men seen on board covered with red hair, supposed
skin-dresses. Tried to come up, but could not. Barque a fast sailer--