dim light from the
deck above him, "I 've told you the truth, sir."

"Very well. Go call your boat's crew on deck. Stand by to capture
them as soon as they reach the gangway, some of you, then stow them all
below; let their boat tow astern. And when that's done, you, sir, hail
your schooner and tell her to heave to until your return. Say just
what I tell you to and nothing more--the pistol at your head is loaded
still. Watch him carefully, men, and then send him below with the
rest. Fill away again, Mr. Seymour."

The ponderous yards were swung, and the Ranger soon gathered way again
and rapidly overhauled the last of the fleet. The first trick had
worked so well that it was worth trying again. As soon as she drew
near the doomed ship, she showed lights like those of the frigate and
sloop of war. Ranging alongside the weather quarter of the transport,
the captain again hailed,--

"Ship ahoy!"

"Ahoy, what ship is that?"

Again the same deluding reply,--

"His Britannic majesty's sloop of war Southampton, Captain Sir James
Yeo. What ship is that?"

"The transport Mellish."

"Very well, you are the one we want. I have a message for you. The
Yankees are about, and the admiral has sent us to look up the convoy.
Where is the Acasta?"

"In the van, Sir James, about two leagues ahead; the corvette is about
a mile forward there, sir."

"Very good. Heave to and send a boat aboard and get your orders. Look
sharp now, I must speak the corvette and the frigate as well."

"Ay, ay, sir," replied the Englishman, as his mainyard was promptly
swung.

Immediately the Ranger was hove to as well, and on her weather side,
which was that away from the transport, two well-manned boats, their
crews heavily armed, one commanded by Seymour, who had Talbot with him,
and the other by Philip Wilton, accompanied by Bentley, had been
silently lowered into the water, and were pulling around the Ranger
with muffled oars; making a large detour not only to avoid the boat of
the captain of the Mellish, but also to enable one of them to approach
the unsuspecting ship on the lee side. The night was pitch dark, and
the plan was carried out exactly as anticipated. The utterly
unsuspecting captain of the Mellish was seized as he came on deck and
nearly choked to death before he could make an outcry, then sent below
with the rest; his boat's crew were tempted on deck also by an
invitation to partake of unlimited grog, and treat