at an
instant's notice.

At length the two ships drew almost near enough to exchange signals.
"That ship is French, depend on it, sir!" exclaimed the first lieutenant
to the Captain.

"I am not quite so certain of that, Digby," answered Captain Brine.
"But if she is not an enemy, she is the _Diamond_ frigate, commanded by
Sir Sydney Smith. He has a wonderful knack of disguising his ship. I
have known him to deceive the French themselves, and quietly to sail
under a battery, look into a port, and be out again before he was
suspected. He delights in such sort of work, and is not over bashful in
describing afterwards what he has done. We shall soon, however,
ascertain the truth. Try the stranger now with our private signals."

The flags were run up, and in a short time Sir Henry exclaimed, "You are
right, sir! She replies, and makes the _Diamond's_ number. There is
another signal now. Sir Sydney orders us to close with him."

"I felt almost certain that it was the _Diamond_," said the Captain.
"Well, gentlemen, I have no doubt that we shall soon have some work to
do."

As soon as the corvette got within a short distance of the frigate, she
hove to; and a boat being lowered, Captain Brine went on board to pay
his respects to his superior officer. He, however, speedily returned.

"Sir Sydney proposes a cruise round the French coast together, which
accords with our instructions," he said, addressing his two lieutenants,
and the news soon spread through the ship.

Away the frigate and corvette sailed together, and soon fell in with a
large lugger, to which they gave chase; but she turned out to be the
_Aristocrat_, a hired vessel, fitted out by Government, and commanded by
Lieutenant Gossett. Sir Sydney rubbed his hands.

"We could not be better off!" he exclaimed. "The _Lion_, _Wolf_, and
_Jackal_ all hunting in company."

Not many days had passed before a fleet of vessels was espied under the
land, and evidently French. One was made out to be a corvette, and the
others brigs, schooners, and luggers, which she was apparently
convoying. Chase was instantly given, and the strangers made all sail
to escape.

Away they went, close in with the shore, just as a herd of oxen run
along a hedge looking for an opening into which to escape. At length
the water shoaled so much that the frigate had to haul off. The
corvette stood on a little longer, and had to do the same; while the
lugger, running on still fa