go hard
but I will bring you through somehow. Starboard your helm, there," to
the man at the wheel; "let her come to on the larboard tack; to your
stations, men; let go the larboard sheets and braces, and round in on
the starboard. Smartly, my bullies; let's have no bungling, now, or
Captain Otway there will at once suspect that something is amiss.
That's well; ease up the lee topgallant and royal-braces a trifle; well
there of all; belay! Afterguard, muster your buckets and brushes and
wash down the decks. Roberts, go below with a gang and rouse the
hammocks on deck; and quarter-masters, see that they are snugly stowed.
Where's the signal-man? Bend the ensign on to the peak-halliards and
our number at the main; and main-top, there I stand by to hoist away the
pennant. Gunner, muster your crew; go round the quarters with them; and
see that everything is ship-shape in case we should have to make a fight
of it."

I was surprised to see how, as Farmer issued his orders in a tone of
authority, the instinct of discipline asserted itself; the men sprang to
their stations as nimbly and executed their several duties as smartly as
though Captain Pigot himself had been directing their movements. The
_Hermione_ was braced sharp up on the larboard tack and heading as near
as she would lay for the _Mermaid_, which was now about a point and a
half on our weather bow, about four miles distant, and nearing us fast;
whilst the _Favourite_ and the _Drake_ were stretching out from under
the land to join her.

Presently a string of tiny balls went soaring aloft to the _Mermaid's_
main-royal mast-head, to break abroad as they reached it and stream out
in the fresh morning breeze as so many gaily coloured signal flags.

"There goes the _Mermaid's_ bunting, sir!" sang out the signal-man, "she
is showing her number."

"Ay, ay, I see it," exclaimed Farmer. "And, by Heaven," he added, "it
never struck me until this moment that Pigot was senior captain. Hoist
away your ensign and pennant! up with the number! We are all right, my
hearties; I know how to trick them now."

He raised the telescope to his eye and brought it to bear upon the
_Mermaid_.

"All right," he exclaimed a few seconds later, "she sees our number--
haul down! Now signal her to chase in the north-eastern quarter.
Hurrah, my hearties, that's your sort! There goes her answering
pennant; and there she hauls to the wind on the starboard tack. That
disposes of her