thout arousing the suspicions of those aboard her. Haul aft
your lee-jib and fore-sheets, there, my lads; we must not present the
appearance of lying in wait for her. Luff all you can without shaking,"
to the man at the wheel; "I do not want the schooner to move fast
through the water. We must let yonder ship pass near enough to us, if
possible, to be able to read the name on her stern."

"I do not think there is much doubt about her being the Indiaman, sir,"
said I; "for if you will look out here, broad on our weather quarter,
you will see what I take to be the lugger that has captured her."

"Ay, true enough, I do see something! You have sharp eyes, George, and
no mistake," answered the skipper. "Yes, there certainly is something
there; and, as you say, it looks uncommonly like a lugger! Well, she is
a good two miles off. We shall have time to run the big fellow aboard
and take her before that lugger is near enough to trouble us. Stand by,
there, some of you, to jump aloft and loose the topsail when I give the
word. Hillo, what is that? A gun from the lugger, by the hookey! They
have made us out, and don't like the look of us, apparently, so they
have fired a gun to wake up the people aboard the prize. Ha! now they
have seen us aboard the big ship too, and are taking in their stunsails,
to haul to the wind, I suppose. But you are too late, my hearties!"
apostrophising the ship, now less than a cable's length from us; "you
will be to leeward of us in another two minutes. Boy, bring me my
glass. You will find it slung in beckets in the companion."

On came the ship, near enough now for us to see that she was undoubtedly
an Indiaman, and as undoubtedly British. The people on board her were
evidently in a great flusteration, for they had started to take in all
the studding-sails at once, and a pretty mess they were making of the
job, most of the studding-sails having blown forward over the fore side
of the booms. While they were still battling with the unruly canvas the
ship swept, yawing wildly, close past our lee quarter; so close, indeed,
that no glasses were required, for even in the faint light of the
growing dawn it was possible to read with the unaided eye the gilt
lettering on her stern--"_Hoogly, London_."

CHAPTER THREE.

OUR FIRST SUCCESS.

"That settles the matter for good and all!" exclaimed the skipper, now
in rare good-humour, as he pointed to the Indiaman's stern. "Up with
your