Paul kept vigil on deck with the first lieutenant.

"Sail ho!" cried the lookout forward, about seven o'clock in the
morning.

A small vessel was discovered approaching the Josephine from the
direction of the shore, or rather of the mouth of the Scheldt, whose
western estuary forms a broad bay about twelve miles in width. As the
small craft came near, it was evident that she was a pilot boat. She
carried a red flag at her mast-head, on which was a number in white
figures. On her principal sail there was a large letter "P," and under
it "ANTWERPEN." When she hove in sight, the jack was hoisted at the
foremast-head of the Josephine, which is the signal for a pilot. As the
little cutter rounded to, the words "_Bateau Pilote_" with her number,
were seen on the stern.

She was a Belgian pilot-boat. The mouth of the Scheldt, and its course
for forty miles, are in Holland, and off the mouth of the river both
Dutch and Belgian pilots offer their services to inward-bound vessels;
but the sea pilots take vessels only to Flushing, the river pilotage
being a separate charge. Mr. Lowington had instructed Paul, as the
squadron was bound to Antwerp, to prefer a Belgian pilot, who would take
the vessel up to that city, and charge the pilotage in one bill.

A canoe put off from the "Bateau Pilote," and a weather-beaten Belgian
sailor leaped upon the deck. He opened his eyes very wide when he had
taken a single glance at the vessel and her crew. He seemed to be as
much confounded as the Liverpool pilot had been on a similar occasion.
The professors were at breakfast in the cabin, and not a single man
appeared on deck.

"_L'Amerique?_" said the pilot, glancing at the flag which floated at
the peak.

"_Oui_," replied Paul, laughing.

"_Ou est le capitaine, monsieur?_" added the pilot, looking around him
again.

"_Je suis capitaine,_" replied Paul.

"_Est-il possible!_"

"_C'est possible._ You speak English?--_parlez-vous anglais?_" added
Paul.

"I speak _un pere_," replied the pilot. "What vessel that is?" he
continued, pointing to the galiot, which was following in the wake of
the Josephine.

"She is a Dutch vessel, that was upset yesterday. We saved her. The
captain and his family are on board, but none of us have been able to
speak a word to him."

"Where bound are you?"

"To Antwerp. We have a crew on board of the galiot. We will not attempt
to take her to Antwerp."

"She have taken a pilot," said the Belgian, as