with her, and a third. I
can't tell what she is, sir. The first one looks like a large ship."

"Mr. Wallingford, take the glass and go up the crosstrees and see what
you make of them, sir," said the captain.

"Very good, sir," replied the lieutenant, springing into the main
rigging and rapidly ascending to the crosstrees, glass in hand.

"Gentlemen, we will have a nearer look at these gentry," continued the
captain, glancing back at the officers, who had all come up from below,
while the men, equally interested, were crowding on the forecastle, and
gazing eagerly in the direction of the reported sails, which were not
yet visible from the deck.

"On deck, there."

"Ay, ay, what is it?"

"I can make out five ships, and two brigs, and a schooner, and some
other sails just rising, all close hauled on the port tack. I think
there are more of them, sir, but I can't say yet. We are rapidly
drawing down on them, and shall be able to make them out in a minute.
I think it is a convoy or a fleet."

"That will do, Mr. Wallingford; lay down on deck, sir; give the glass
to the man on the royal-yard, though, before you come. Who is he?"

"It is me, sir, Jack Thompson."

"Keep a bright lookout then, Thompson, and if yon 's an enemy's fleet
or convoy, it means a glass of grog and a guinea for you when your
watch is over."

"Thankee, sir," cried the delighted seaman.

"Mr. Wallingford, could you make anything out of the size of the ships?"

"One of them I should say was a large ship, a frigate or ship of the
line possibly, the others were too far off."

"It can't be a fleet," replied Captain Jones; "there are not so many of
the enemy's ships together in these waters, if we are correctly
informed. I suspect it must be a lot of merchantmen and transports,
convoyed by two or three men of war. Now is our opportunity,
gentlemen," he continued, his eyes sparkling with delight. "They are
apparently beating in for Halifax, and probably the Mellish, our
transport, will be among them. We will pay them a visit to-night in
any event. I would n't let them pass by without a bow or two, if they
were a fleet of two deckers!"

Apparently this reckless bravado entirely suited the ship's company,
for one of the men who had heard the doughty captain's speech called
for three cheers, which were given with a will.

"Ay, that's a fine hearty crew, and full of fight. Call on all hands,
Mr. Simpson."

This was more or less a perf