s. We waited patiently where we were until she had
risen hull-up, revealing herself through the telescope as a very
handsome, smart-looking little schooner, with very white sails, which
looked as though made of cotton canvas; and then we got our sea anchor
inboard, cast the oars adrift in readiness for instant use should we
need them, and got under way, working the boat to and fro in short tacks
immediately athwart the schooner's hawse, while Simpson stood on a
thwart to windward, waving a rag to attract attention, the boatswain
meanwhile keeping the telescope steadfastly bearing upon the approaching
craft.

We had just tacked for the second time when Murdock, with his eyes still
glued to the telescope, shouted:

"They see us! they see us! There's a couple of chaps standin' by her
starboard cathead lookin' at us under the sharp of their hands. And now
one of 'em has turned round and is looking aft; he's reportin' of us to
the hofficer of the watch, he is--I can see him hollerin' with one hand
to the side of his mouth while he p'ints with the other. Yes; and now
there's another chap runnin' for'ard to join the first two; he'll be the
mate, I reckon--or p'rhaps the skipper. And now the third man's lookin'
at us too. Keep on wavin', Sails; don't let there be no mistake about
what we wants. The third man's runnin' aft again. He's goin' to call
the Old Man, I reckon." A pause of about half a minute ensued, and then
the boatswain resumed:

"No, he ain't; he's gone aft to get his glass. Yes, that's it; and now
he's bringin' it to bear upon us. Wave, Sails, wave, you skowbank, for
all you're worth. Yes; that's--Hurrah! it's all right, bullies, they're
not agoin' to leave us behind; they're chaps of the right sort, they
are! See that, Mr Temple? There's in stuns'ls; they're agoin' to
shorten sail and round-to, to pick us up. But they seem to be
thunderin' short-handed. They'll be past us and away to loo'ard long
afore they can get them stuns'ls in. Better bear up and run down afore
it, hadn't we, sir, so's not to keep 'em waitin'?"

The suggestion was a good one, for they had at least two studdingsails--
those set on the starboard side--to take in before they could round-to,
and from the rate at which they were getting the first in I could see
that, as Murdock had said, the little vessel would run past us before
they could get in the other. So I put up the helm and bore away, easing
off the sheet, and when