burning begins, I
sha'n't feel noways very greatly concerned."

With which summing up of the case Mr Bowen dropped into a sitting
posture alongside his commander, and, letting his legs dangle down over
the outer edge of the top, filled his pipe, and proceeded to regale
himself with what he chose to term "two whiffs and a half."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A MARINE DUEL--AND ITS RESULT.

The two occupants of the main-top maintained their position therein,
keeping a watchful eye upon the movements of the schooner, until that
craft had approached to within about three miles of the _Aurora_, when
they descended to the deck; Captain Leicester remarking to the mate, as
the latter swung himself down off the rail--

"I think, Mr Bowen, we may as well run up our ensign; perhaps the
schooner will return the compliment and oblige us with a sight of the
colour of her bunting."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate; and he walked aft, got out the ensign,
bent it on to the halliards, and ran it up to the mizzen peak, where it
hung in drooping folds, swaying listlessly with the sleepy roll of the
ship.

For some time there was no response on the part of the schooner, which
held steadily on her way straight for the barque, her six long sweeps
plying as vigorously as ever, and churning up the glassy water into a
long line of miniature whirlpools, which gradually diminished until they
finally subsided on each side of her gleaming wake.

"The breeze, the breeze; here it comes at last, thank God!" ejaculated
Bowen, who had been for some time anxiously regarding the rising bank of
greyish cloud to the eastward. As he spoke, a faint, barely perceptible
breath of cool air fanned the faces of the anxious watchers on the deck
of the _Aurora_, and was gone again; a "cat's-paw" or two momentarily
ruffled the surface of the water here and there, only to leave it as
glassy as before; then came another puff, which lasted just long enough
to trail out the ensign for an instant and to rustle the royals; and
then away on the extreme verge of the eastern horizon, the gleaming
water assumed a light blue tint, which gradually spread, creeping slowly
down towards the two vessels, the blue on the horizon insensibly
darkening all the while, and conveying the thrice welcome intelligence
that the breeze was slowly but steadily freshening.

"Yes," said George, "here it comes, sure enough; and in a few hours we
shall have plenty of it, by the look of the sky.