om," he whispered,
excitedly.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Suppose the Yankee seizes our prize while we try to take his schooner."

"Murder!" exclaimed Tom Fillot, leaping up in the stern-sheets. "I
never thought of that."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

TRADING WITH THE AMERICAN.

For a few brief moments Mark was ready to turn back and make sure of his
prize, but every stroke was carrying him nearer to the stranger, and in
less time than it takes to describe it, he found out that he had alarmed
himself with his own bugbear.

For the Yankee skipper, apparently taken quite aback at the sight of the
armed boat's crew, began by ordering his men to stop, and then turned
and had himself rowed back as swiftly as possible, with the result that
the boats reached the two sides of the second schooner nearly together.
And as Mark scrambled up and over the stern, in spite of the menacing
looks of three men at the side, who, however, fell back before Tom
Fillot and those who followed, the Yankee master stepped over the
bulwarks too, and advanced to meet Mark.

"How are yew?" he said, coolly. "Didn't know yew was coming aboard.
Can yew trade me a barrel or two o' good whites flour? I'm running
rayther short."

"Perhaps I can," said Mark, sharply, as he cast an eye over the deck.
"What ship's this?"

"Ef yew'd looked at her starnboard yew'd hev seen, mister. She's the
_Mariar B Peasgood_, o' Charleston, South Carlinar, trading in notions.
What's yourn?"

"Prize to her Britannic Majesty's ship _Nautilus_."

"Prize schooner, eh?" said the American, coolly, gazing over Mark's
shoulder at the graceful little vessel. "Wal, I am surprised. I said
as she looked a clipper as could sail a few."

"Your papers, please."

"Eh? Oh, suttunly. Air yew an officer?"

"Yes," replied Mark, shortly. "Your papers, please."

"Wall, I thowt _we_ was pretty smart, and made skippers of our boys in
mighty good time, but you beat us. I give in. Ephrim, fetch up them
thar papers outer my cabin."

A sour-looking fellow with a villainous grin slouched to the little
cabin-hatch; and by this time the whole of the boat's crew, including
the two blacks, and saving the coxswain, who held on to the chains, were
aboard, Tom Fillot scanning the deck eagerly for some sign of the
nefarious traffic, but none was visible.

"Guessed yew was pirates for a moment, mister," said the skipper. "Yew
quite scarred me, and I kim back in a hurry, thinking