racters, that not a trace of the
good manners he once possessed remained by him.

We had got into the latitude of the Cape de Verde islands, and were
looking out for the African coast, the wind being about east, when about
two hours after noon the look-out at the masthead shouted, "A sail in
sight on the larboard bow."

On hearing this, the first mate, with a glass slung over his shoulder,
went aloft to have a look at the stranger. He was sometime there, and
when he returned on deck I thought by his countenance that he did not
like her appearance.

"She's ship rigged, going free, and standing this way, sir," he said to
the captain; "and if we keep on our present course she will be within
hail of us within a couple of hours at furthest. She may be a
man-of-war cruiser, or an enemy's privateer, or an honest trader; but
were she that, I don't see why she should be standing this way, unless
she thinks the wind will shift, and she wishes to get a good offing from
Cape de Verde. Or else she may be one of the picarooning craft which we
have heard of on this coast, although it has never been my ill luck to
fall in with them."

"But it has been mine; and though I had the good fortune to get clear of
the rascal, I never wish to meet with one of her class again; and so, in
case yonder craft should be of that character, or an enemy's privateer,
we shall do well to stand clear of her," said Captain Magor; "and
although we may lose a day or two, that will be better than running the
risk of being captured or sent to the bottom. All hands make sail--up
with the helm--square away the yards. Rig out the studding-sail booms,
Mr Sherwin," he added, addressing the first mate as soon as the ship
was before the wind.

The boatswain sounded his whistle. "Be smart there, my sweet lads," he
cried out. "Haul away, my lovely cherubs, on the starboard
studding-sail halyards. Belay all that, my charmers;" and so he went on
whistling and shouting, until we had studding-sails extended below and
aloft on either side, and both royals set, and were running along at the
rate of some seven or eight knots an hour before a light breeze.

Harry and I on all occasions lent a hand when we thought we could be of
use, and Tom did not fail to bestow his approving remarks upon us. The
first mate now went aloft to ascertain whether the stranger had again
altered her course, or whether she was standing on as before, in which
case we hoped to run her o