" answered the young officer; "and if we shall only
succeed in capturing the transport I shall like it much better."

"Well, gentlemen," said Captain Jones, "I will give you a toast. Here
's to a successful cruise, many prizes, good chances at the enemy, and,
of course, first of all, the capture of the transport, though that will
deprive me of the pleasure of your society. I intend to bear away to
the northeast immediately we pass the Capes, and I count upon striking
the transport somewhere off Halifax. If we should succeed in capturing
her, I am of the opinion, if her cargo proves as valuable as reported,
that my best course would be to convoy her to one of our ports, or at
least so far upon her way as to insure her safe arrival. The cargo
would be too important to be lost or recaptured under any
circumstances," he continued meditatively. "Well, I think I would
better go on deck for the present. You will excuse me, Mr. Talbot, I
am sure. You will both dine with me to-night. Seymour, a word with
you," he continued, opening the door and going out, followed by his
executive officer.

CHAPTER XIII

_A Clever Stratagem_

Six days out from the Capes of Delaware Bay, and the Ranger was
cruising between Halifax and Boston, about one hundred leagues east of
Cape Sable. If there be truth in the maxim that a ship is never fit
for action until she has been a week at sea, the Ranger might be
considered as ready for any emergency now. The crew had thoroughly
learned their stations; they and the officers had become acquainted
with each other; the possibilities of the ship in different weather,
and on various points of sailing, had been ascertained. The drill at
quarters twice daily, and the regular target practice with great guns,
and the exercises with small arms, had materially developed the
offensive and defensive possibilities of the ship.

The already warm friendship between Seymour and Talbot, now thrown into
close association by the necessary confinement of a small ship, had
grown into an intimacy, and they held many discussions concerning their
absent friends in the long hours of the night watches. Talbot had
learned through common rumor before they sailed, that Colonel Wilton
would probably be sent to England with Lord Dunmore, whose retirement,
under the vigorous policy pursued by the Virginians under the
leadership of Patrick Henry, who had been elected governor, was
inevitable; and he did not doubt