r the present,
until we had become better acquainted with the capabilities of the
craft. But Bob was obdurate, and at last I had to give in and rest
content with the assurance that he would give me timely warning if it
should become necessary to shorten sail.

When I came on deck at four o'clock I found we were just off Dungeness,
and in the midst of an outward-bound fleet of ships of all sizes and
almost all nations. The wind appeared to have freshened somewhat during
Bob's watch; but the morning was beautifully clear and fine; and, as our
spars seemed to bear with the utmost ease the sail we were carrying, I
thought we might venture to try the effect of a little extra "muslin."

Accordingly, before relieving Bob at the tiller, I roused out our
spinnaker again; and as we had hauled up a couple of points for Beachy
Head just as I came on deck, I got it to the bowsprit-end and set it,
with its sheet led aft to the main-boom-end, in place of the jib, which,
with the foresail, I stowed. Bob then went below and turned in, first
giving me strict injunctions to call him at "seven-bells," that he might
turn out and prepare breakfast, for it now appeared that he intended to
unite the functions of chief-mate and cook and steward, on the voyage we
had just started upon so auspiciously.

The substitution of the spinnaker for the jib and foresail made a very
great difference in our rate of sailing. When I first came on deck I
noticed some distance astern a splendid clipper-ship, bowling along with
every stitch of canvas set that would draw, up to skysails and royal
studding-sails. By the time I had got my spinnaker set she was abreast
of us, about half a mile outside and consequently to leeward. But _now_
she was unable to draw away from us an inch, so great was our speed
through the smooth water; and when Bob came on deck at "seven-bells,"
she still lay as nearly as possible in the same position with regard to
us as when he went below.

"Phew!" whistled he, as his eye fell on her, "so the big chap has found
his match, has he, in a craft the size of his own long-boat. My eyes!
Harry, but this here _is_ a little flyer, and no mistake. Why, the
post-office people 'll be wanting us to carry their mails for 'em, if so
be as they gets to hear on us, eh, lad?"

Closing this remark with a chuckle of intense satisfaction and a leer at
our big neighbour, Bob dived below again; and shortly afterwards a
frizzling sound from forwa