d of her.
Just as the darkness was closing down upon us, however, she took in her
trysail and fore-topmast-staysail, and set a main-staysail instead; but
they were so long about it that, when at length the change had been
effected, the ship had drawn up to within about half a mile of the
brigantine's lee quarter. I directed Captain Winter's attention to
this, and he agreed with me that the manoeuvre had an exceedingly
suspicious appearance.

"The ship, however, is quite safe for the present," he remarked; "for,
even assuming the brigantine to be a Frenchman and a privateer, her
people can do nothing so long as it continues to blow so heavily as at
present. But directly that the wind shows signs of dropping we may look
out; and if we observe any further suspicious manoeuvres we may safely
conclude that she is French, and, if the men-o'-war do not forestall us,
we will have a slap at her; for she appears to be a wonderfully fast and
weatherly craft and is certainly a most magnificent sea-boat."

I determined that I would keep a sharp eye upon the movements of that
brigantine--for I could not rid my mind of a very strong suspicion that
her people meant mischief,--and I accordingly watched her until she had
displayed her light, which I then pointed out to a man whom I told off
for the especial purpose of keeping his eye on it; it being my intention
to persuade the skipper, if possible, to run down a little closer to her
when it had become sufficiently dark to conceal our movements from
observation. Captain Winter offered no objection to my proposal; and
accordingly, at eight bells of the second dog-watch, when the deck was
relieved, our helm was put up and we edged away down toward the light
which was stated to be that of the brigantine. But when at length, by
careful manoeuvring, we had contrived to approach within biscuit-toss of
the vessel displaying it, it was discovered, to my chagrin, that she was
not the brigantine, but a large barque, the skipper of which appeared to
be greatly frightened at our sudden appearance near him; for he hailed
us, in execrable French, that he was armed, and that if we did not sheer
off forthwith he would fire into us. I replied, in English, that he
need not be afraid of us, as we were British, like himself, and then
inquired whether he had seen a large brigantine in his neighbourhood. I
got a reply to my question, it is true, but it was utterly
incomprehensible; and I doubt very muc