"what do you think? do you
fancy a privateer could take us in a hurry?"

"Why, captain, if the men fight, I should say not; but, you see, these
guns, handsome as they are, won't fight of themselves."

"I'll answer for the men fighting; they'll have but their choice--fight,
or the contents of my pistol through the first man's head who quits his
gun. I'll nail the colors to the mast, and see who will be the man who
will haul them down. Why, pilot, this vessel is insured at thirty
thousand pounds."

"Then she'll be a famous prize, if they should contrive to take her,
that's all," said Bramble. "Halloo! what vessel's that coming down? Tom,
hand your glass here."

"I haven't got it with me."

"Well, give me that one on the skylight. I can't make her out, but I
don't much like the looks of her."

"Heh! what's that?" said the captain. "Let me look--oh, she's a
square-rigged vessel, ain't she?"

"Can't tell," said Bramble.

The mate, who had fetched his glass from below, looked at her, and said
it was a coasting schooner.

"Are you sure of that?" said the captain. "Let me see. Well, I don't
know what to say--she does look rakish. I'll go forward and make her
out."

"Why, it's a coaster, Bramble," said I, as the captain walked forward.

"I know that," replied Bramble, with a wink.

The captain returned, probably satisfied that it was only a coaster, but
he did not choose to say so, "Well, I don't know what to make of her,
but at all events there's nothing like being ready. She's coming down
fast upon us; Mr. Stubbs, we'll beat to quarters."

Again the people were called up and the guns cast loose; the powder was
handed up, and all was preparation. I did not think, however, that the
passengers appeared at all zealous; but that I was not surprised at: the
captain harangued them, calling them Britons, etc., and, hoping that
they would show what stuff they were made of; talked about the honor of
Old England, and a great deal more, and then examined the vessel again
with his glass. "We'll give her the starboard broadside, and then wear
round his stern and give her the other. Hoist the colors!"

As soon as we hoisted the colors, the schooner hoisted English colors
also.

"English colors, sir!" said the mate, grinning.

"English colors, heh? Very well; but that may be a feint--keep to your
guns, my lads."

The vessel now ran by us; she was deeply laden, and as broad as she was
long.

"No privateer this time, ca