ptain," said Bramble, laughing.

"No, all's right; secure the guns, my lads. We'd have given her a nice
peppering if she'd been a French privateer."

The captain then went down below to put away his sword and pistols,
which the cabin-boy had brought on deck.

"It's my opinion, Tom," said Bramble, "that this skipper ain't quite so
fond of fighting as he pretends to be. I'll see if I can't frighten him
a little."

As soon as the captain came on deck again, Bramble said, "We'll go
about, if you please."

"What! about already? why, we're good three leagues from the shore."

"Yes, sir, but the tide has made, and we must now make a long
stretch-out toward the French coast. We won't tack again till about
dark."

"Not tack till dark, pilot? Surely we will do better keeping on the
English coast."

"No, no, sir; if we were not so well manned and so well armed I should
do it; but, as we are a match for any privateer, why, we may as well
make a long leg--we shall be up Channel sooner."

"Well, I don't know what to say. I've a heavy responsibility with such a
valuable cargo."

"Well, tack if you please, sir," said Bramble, shortly.

"Oh, certainly. Hands, about ship."

The vessel's head was put off-shore, and with a smart breeze we walked
away fast from the land. At twelve o'clock the captain proposed
standing inshore again, but Bramble refused. At three o'clock he became
very uneasy, and expostulated with Bramble, who replied, "Well, sir, I'm
doing all for the best, but if you are afraid--"

"Afraid?" cried the captain; "afraid of what, I should like to know? No,
I'm not afraid, but it appears to me that we ought to make the land
again before night."

"I'll answer for knowing where we are, sir, if that is your reason; at
all events, I wish to stand out till six o'clock."

"Well, do so, then, if you choose--I'm sure I don't care if you stand to
within gunshot of the French coast;" and the captain, evidently very
much annoyed, went down into the cabin.

About half-past four o'clock the mate came aft and took up the glass,
saying that there was an awkward-looking craft on the weather bow. He
came aft again, and said, "Pilot, I wish you would take a squint at that
craft, for I don't much like the look of her."

Bramble went forward, and I followed him. "I say, Tom, that's a French
privateer, as sure as we stand here," said he. "Look at her. Well, now
we shall see what these guns are made of."

"Don't put too muc