session.

The master stood, hat in hand, at the gangway, ready to receive him.

He was bound, he said, for Martinique, in ballast, to obtain a cargo and
other stores for Leogane, the principal settlement of the French in the
island. The crew consisted of a Creole mate, two mulattos, and four
blacks, one of the former calling himself the boatswain.

"Then you'll do me the favour of accompanying the master and mate on
board the ship," said Rayner pointing to the boat.

The master seemed very unwilling to obey, but the crew soon tumbled him,
with the mate and boatswain, into the boat, which returned to the
corvette, while Rayner remained with two hands on board.

He now ordered the crew to haul round the fore yard, and, keeping the
helm up, soon ran within speaking distance of the _Lily_.

"I intend to send you in to land the people picked up on the raft, with
a flag of truce, and as soon as you put them on shore, come back and
join me," said the commander.

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Rayner, very well pleased to have a separate
command, although it might only last a few hours. He was still more
pleased, however, when the boat came back, bringing Oliver Crofton, the
four Frenchmen, and Jack and Tom, to form part of his crew. The blacks
and the mulatto were kept on board to assist in working the schooner.
The mulatto said he was the steward, and one of the blacks, with a low
bow, introduced himself as the cook.

"Me talkee English, massa, well as French, and me cookee anyting dat
buckra officer like to order," he said, with a grimace which made the
midshipman laugh.

"By-the-bye, before we part company with the corvette, we may as well
ascertain what Sambo here has got to cook," said Oliver.

It was fortunate that he had this forethought, for, except a supply of
salt-fish, some yams and bananas, and a small cask of flour, with a
half-empty case of claret, no other provisions were discovered for
officers or men. Oliver accordingly returned, and obtained some beef
and biscuit, and a few articles from the mess.

"And just bring five or six dollars with you, in case we want to
purchase any fish or vegetables," said Rayner, as he was shoving off.

No time was lost in procuring what was necessary, when Oliver returned
to the _Mouche_, for such was the name of the prize. The corvette
making sail, she and the schooner ran on in company until they came off
the French part of the coast. The commander then ordered Rayn