NINE.

"TO BE, OR NOT TO BE," THAT IS THE QUESTION--SPLINTERS ON BOARD OF A
MAN-OF-WAR VERY DIFFERENT FROM SPLINTERS IN THE FINGER ON SHORE--TOM
PREVENTS THIS NARRATIVE FROM BEING WOUND UP BY MY GOING DOWN--I RECEIVE
A LAWYER'S LETTER, AND INSTEAD OF BEING ANNOYED, AM DELIGHTED WITH IT.

In the meantime, Tom had gone up to the fore-royal arm, and was looking
round for the five guineas, and just as the conversation was going on,
cried out, "Sail ho!"

"Strange sail reported."

"Where," cried the first lieutenant, going forward.

"Right under the sun."

"Mast-head there--do you make her out?"

"Yes, sir; I think she's a schooner; but I can only see down to her
mainyard."

"That's one of them, depend upon it," said the captain.

"Up there, Mr Wilson, and see what you make of her. Who is the man who
reported it?"

"Tom Beazeley, sir."

"Confound that fellow, he makes all my ship's company jump overboard,
and now I must give him five guineas. What do you make of her, Mr
Wilson?"

"A low schooner, sir, very rakish indeed, black sides. I cannot make
out her ports; but I should think she can show a very pretty set of
teeth. She is becalmed as well as we."

"Well, then, we must whistle for a breeze. In the meantime, Mr Knight,
we will have the boats all ready."

If you whistle long enough the wind is certain to come. In about an
hour the breeze did come, and we took it down with us; but it was too
dark to distinguish the schooner, which we had lost sight of as soon as
the sun had set. About midnight the breeze failed us, and it was again
calm. The captain and most of the officers were up all night, and the
watch were employed preparing the boats for service. It was my morning
watch, and at break of day I saw the schooner from the foresail-yard
about four miles to the North West. I ran down on deck and reported
her.

"Very good, my lad. I have her, Mr Knight," said the captain, who had
directed his glass to where I pointed; "and I will have her too, one way
or the other. No signs of wind. Lower down the cutters. Get the yards
and stays hooked all ready. We'll wait a little, and see a little more
of her when it's broad daylight."

At broad daylight the schooner, with her appointments, was distinctly to
be made out. She was pierced for sixteen guns, and was a formidable
vessel to encounter with the boats. The calm still continuing, the
launch, yawl, and pinnace were hoisted out, manned, and ar