izing a
glass and springing to his feet, he hastened on deck.

"Well, Mr. Wilton," he said to that young officer, proud of his
responsibilities, "you keep a good lookout. Where away is the sail
reported?"

"Broad off the weather bow, sir, due north of us. You can't see her
from the deck yet," replied Wilton, flushing with pride at the
compliment.

Seymour sprang into the main rigging, and rapidly ascended to the
crosstrees, glass in hand. There he speedily made out the
topgallantsails of a large ship, having the wind on the quarter
apparently, and slowly coming into view. He subjected her to a long
and careful scrutiny, during which the heads of her topsails rose,
confirming his first idea that she was a ship-of-war, and if so,
without doubt, one of the enemy. She was coming down steadily; and if
the two vessels continued on their present courses they would pass each
other within gun-shot distance in a few hours, a thing not to be
permitted under any circumstances, if it could be avoided. He
continued his inspection a moment longer, and then closing the glass,
descended to the deck with all speed by sliding down the back-stay.

"Forward, there!" he shouted. "Call the other watch, and be quick
about it! Philip, step below and ask Mr. Talbot to come on deck at
once. Bentley, that seems to be a frigate or a heavy sloop going free;
she will be down on us in a few hours if we don't change our course.
Take a look at her, man," he said, handing him the glass, "and let me
know what you think of her."

While the men were coming on deck, Bentley leaped into the mizzen
rigging and ran up the shrouds with an agility surprising in one of his
gigantic figure and advanced age. After a rapid survey he came down
swiftly. "It's an English frigate, and not a doubt of it, sir, and
rising very fast."

"I thought so. Man the weather braces! Up with the helm! Bear a hand
now, my hearties! Now, then, all together! Brace in!" He himself set
a good example to the short crew, who hastened to obey his rapid
commands, by assisting the two seamen stationed aft to brail in the
spanker, in which labor he was speedily joined by Talbot, who had come
on deck. Young Wilton and Bentley lent the same assistance forward,
and in an astonishingly brief time, considering her small crew, the
Mellish, like the stranger, was going free with the wind on her
quarter, her best point of sailing, her course now making a wide obtuse
angle with