she's got her
fore-topsail loosed, and there's the name of the maker on it--the very
thing which first let us know that she was the _William_."

To make more sure that the man was not mistaken, we pulled up the
harbour a little way, and then touching the shore, so as not to excite
the suspicion of the pirates, should they by chance observe us, we
passed close by the vessel on our return. There was, I thought, as I
watched her, a dark, ill-boding look about her; but that might have been
fancy. One man only was to be seen. He was walking the deck, with his
hands in his pockets, and occasionally looking over the side. He caught
sight of us as we pulled by, and seemed to be watching us narrowly. I
felt almost sure that he suspected something was wrong; but probably he
had got a habit of scrutinising everything which approached him, as a
London pickpocket does when he knows that the police are aware of his
course of life. As we dropped past the brig's quarter, I got a better
view of his countenance, and I felt sure that I had seen it before. It
was that of a man I supposed to have been hidden long ago, with all his
crimes, beneath the waves--no other than Bill Myers. It was a
countenance I could not readily forget, after our encounter in the
cavern. Then, in spite of all probabilities, he had contrived to escape
from the breakers of the Portland Race. I was afraid to look up again,
lest he should also recognise me, and give the alarm to his shipmates;
indeed, I was not at all satisfied that he had not already suspected our
intentions. A small boat was floating astern of the brig. He watched
us for some time, as we returned towards the schooner, and as long as I
could observe him, he was keeping his eye on us. We lost not a moment,
on returning on board, in getting out a merchantman's long-boat, which
we had brought with us. She pulled four oars, and was a large, roomy
boat. Besides the hands to pull her, eight of our men were stowed away
under a tarpaulin, which was thrown over them, to look exactly as if it
were covering up some merchandise. All hands under the tarpaulin were
strongly armed, and arms were placed in readiness, stowed away for the
use of those who were pulling.

Mr Vernon again changed his dress, and I followed his example, lest
Myers--or the man I took for him--might recognise us. With beating
hearts we once more left the schooner. We pulled slowly up the harbour,
and soon came in sight of