like
ourselves--who were--also like ourselves--holding on in the evident hope
that with the rising of the moon, or at all events before the turn of
the tide, a little breeze might spring up which would obviate the
necessity of letting go the mud-hook, with the attendant loss of time
and expenditure of labour in getting it again and making sail once more.
It was soon evident that this hope was to be realised, for the moon had
scarcely been above the horizon half an hour when a narrow dark line
appeared stretching along the horizon beneath her, and gradually
widening, until at length a very pretty little easterly breeze reached
us, under the influence of which, heeling slightly and coquettishly away
from it, the saucy _Esmeralda_ began to slip along, with scarcely more
than a ripple at her sharp bows, at the rate of a good honest seven
knots.

Impelled by this most welcome breeze, we were soon round the South
Foreland and off Dover, where we hove-to to land the pilot. In
executing this manoeuvre we passed close under the stern of a
magnificent topsail schooner-yacht, as large as ourselves, with hull
painted a brilliant white, which, in the pale moonlight and with her
snow-white canvas, made her look like a beautiful phantom craft. She
was getting under way, and had just tripped her anchor and was canting
to the southward when we rounded to under her stern; and I noticed Mr
Roberts, my chief mate, looking long and admiringly at her as she
gathered way and, swinging her fore-yard, glided swiftly, yet with a
stately movement, out from among the crowd of craft by which she was
surrounded. Turning away at last, as if regretfully, from the
contemplation of the noble vessel, Roberts stamped his foot impatiently,
and, striding up to the pilot, demanded--

"I say, Mr Pilot, is there any chance of those mates of yours catching
sight of our signals to-night, think ye, or are they keeping a lookout
from between the blankets?"

The pilot, whose perfect calmness and indifference were in ludicrous
contrast to the mate's impatience, turned slowly round and eyed his
questioner deliberately from top to toe before he deigned to answer.

"They will be alongside in less than a minute, mister. They are shut in
behind that billy-boy just now; but--Ah, here they come!"

"Lay aft here, one of you," shouted the mate, "and stand by with a line
for that boat."

"You will come below and take a glass of wine or a glass of grog before
you