earing a moment later with the signal
book. Opening this, he compared the flags as seen through the glass
with similar ones in the book, and their meanings.

"Well?" said the captain impatiently.

"He orders us to heave to under his quarter. Says he is going to send
a boat aboard.

"The deuce he is! Well, I suppose we might as well do as he says.
Strikes me as a pretty high handed proceeding though, in time of peace.
Look! There go his colors at last. British, by thunder!"

As the cross of St. George unfolded to the breeze, Captain Gary,
looking somewhat anxious, bade Duff obey the cruiser's order; then
hastened below in the wake of his first mate and boatswain.

By the time the Curlew had rounded to, a boat was leaving the warship's
side as she lay broadside, hardly a quarter of a mile off. Though the
sea was still rough, six pair of oars brought the boat spinning over
the waves.

Two officers were in the stern sheets, one of whom--a young third
lieutenant--was soon on the deck of the schooner.

At this juncture Captain Gary reappeared, followed by Rucker. Long Tom
had already gone forward.

"What schooner is this?" demanded the officer, after the first
salutations had passed.

"I should like to know first what right you have to ask that question,"
replied Gary in his most suave manner. "These are times of peace, when
every one is privileged to attend to his own affairs, I believe."

"Yes, when his affairs are not injurious to others. There is surely no
harm in asking a vessel's name."

"Is it customary to stop them on the high seas, and send a boat aboard
to find out?"

"Well, yes--under certain circumstances." The lieutenant smiled.
"Especially so when we are under orders to that effect. To be plain,
sir, we suspect you of being engaged in an unlawful enterprise."

As may be supposed, Duff was paying the closest attention, for he and
most others on board had shipped, not knowing the object of the voyage,
but tempted by the high wages.

"You do, eh." It was Gary's turn to smile now. "You men o' war's men
often make mistakes as well as other people. This is the Curlew, four
days out of Savannah, in ballast, and bound for Bermuda."

"You are clear out of your course, if that is the case."

"The storm did that for us. We had a three days' siege of it."

"Well, let me see your papers and take a look through the hold. It can
do no harm."

"None in the least," replied the captain.

H