on,
the _Sarah_ was too foul to overhaul a bottle, it was mere foolery to
keep the sea with her; and on these pretended grounds her head was
incontinently put about and the course laid for the river. It was
strange to see what merriment fell on that ship's company, and how they
stamped about the deck jesting, and each computing what increase had
come to his share by the death of the two gunners.

We were nine days making our port, so light were the airs we had to sail
on, so foul the ship's bottom; but early on the tenth, before dawn, and
in a light lifting haze, we passed the head. A little after, the haze
lifted, and fell again, showing us a cruiser very close. This was a sore
blow, happening so near our refuge. There was a great debate of whether
she had seen us, and if so whether it was likely they had recognised the
_Sarah_. We were very careful, by destroying every member of those crews
we overhauled, to leave no evidence as to our own persons; but the
appearance of the _Sarah_ herself we could not keep so private; and
above all of late, since she had been foul, and we had pursued many
ships without success, it was plain that her description had been often
published. I supposed this alert would have made us separate upon the
instant. But here again that original genius of Ballantrae's had a
surprise in store for me. He and Teach (and it was the most remarkable
step of his success) had gone hand in hand since the first day of his
appointment. I often questioned him upon the fact, and never got an
answer but once, when he told me he and Teach had an understanding
"which would very much surprise the crew if they should hear of it, and
would surprise himself a good deal if it was carried out." Well, here
again he and Teach were of a mind; and by their joint procurement the
anchor was no sooner down than the whole crew went off upon a scene of
drunkenness indescribable. By afternoon we were a mere shipful of
lunatical persons, throwing of things overboard, howling of different
songs at the same time, quarrelling and falling together, and then
forgetting our quarrels to embrace. Ballantrae had bidden me drink
nothing, and feign drunkenness, as I valued my life; and I have never
passed a day so wearisomely, lying the best part of the time upon the
forecastle and watching the swamps and thickets by which our little
basin was entirely surrounded for the eye. A little after dusk
Ballantrae stumbled up to my side, feigned to