, one Sunday forenoon, as Captain M--- was performing divine
service, the man at the masthead hailed the deck with "A strange sail on
the weather-bow!"

The puritan may be shocked to hear that the service was speedily,
although decorously closed; but Captain M--- was aware from the
fidgeting of the ship's company, upon the capstan bars, on which they
were seated, that it would be impossible to regain their attention to
the service, even if he had felt inclined to proceed: and he well knew,
that any worship of God in which the mind and heart were not engaged,
was but an idle ceremony, if not a solemn mockery. The hands were
turned up--all sail was made--and in an hour, the stranger was to be
seen with the naked eye from the fore-yard.

"What do you make of her, Mr Stewart?" said the first-lieutenant to
him, as he sat aloft with his glass directed towards the vessel.

"A merchant ship, sir, in ballast."

"What did he say, Jerry?" inquired Prose, who stood by him on the
gangway.

"A French vessel, deeply laden, Prose."

"Bravo, Jerry!" said Prose, rubbing his hands. "We shall get some
prize-money, I do declare."

"To be sure we shall. It will give us twenty pounds at least for a
midshipman's share, for her cargo must be sugar and coffee. Only,
confound it, one has to wait so long for it. I'll sell mine, dog-cheap,
if any one will buy it. Will you, Prose?"

"Why, Jerry, I don't much like speculation: but, now, what would you
really sell your chance for?"

"I'll take ten pounds for it. We're certain to come up with her."

"Ten pounds! No, Jerry, that is too much. I'll tell you what, I'll
give you five pounds."

"Done," replied Jerry, who was aware that a vessel in ballast would not
give him thirty shillings, if Captain M--- sent her in, which was very
unlikely. "Where's the money?"

"Oh, you must trust to my honour; the first port we go into, I pledge
you my word that you shall have it."

"I don't doubt your word, or your honour, the least, Prose; but still I
should like to have the money in my hand. Could you not borrow it?
Never mind--it's a bargain."

In two hours the frigate had neared the stranger so as to distinguish
her water-line from the deck, and on hoisting her ensign and pendant,
the vessel bore down to her.

"She has hoisted English colours, sir," reported Stewart to the captain.

"What, Stewart! did you say that she had hoisted English colours?"
inquired Prose, with an anxious fa