n who will haul them down. Why, pilot, this vessel is insured at
thirty thousand pounds."

"Then she'll be a famous prize, if they should contrive to take her,
that's all," said Bramble. "Halloo! what vessel's that coming down?
Tom, hand your glass here."

"I haven't got it with me."

"Well, give me that one on the skylight. I can't make her out, but I
don't much like the looks of her."

"Heh! what's that?" said the captain. "Let me look:--oh, she's a
square-rigged vessel, ain't she?"

"Can't tell," said Bramble.

The mate, who had fetched his glass from below, looked at her, and said
it was a coasting schooner.

"Are you sure of that?" said the captain. "Let me see:--well, I don't
know what to say--she does look rakish. I'll go forward and make her
out."

"Why, it's a coaster, Bramble," said I, as the captain walked forward.

"I know that," replied Bramble, with a wink.

The captain returned, probably satisfied that it was only a coaster, but
he did not choose to say so. "Well, I don't know what to make of her,
but at all events there's nothing like being ready. She's coming down
fast upon us; Mr Stubbs, we'll beat to quarters."

Again the people were called up and the guns cast loose; the powder was
handed up, and all was preparation. I did not think, however, that the
passengers appeared at all zealous; but that I was not surprised at: the
captain harangued them, calling them Britons, etcetera, and, hoping that
they would show what stuff they were made of; talked about the honour of
Old England, and a great deal more, and then examined the vessel again
with his glass. "We'll give her the starboard broadside, and then wear
round his stern and give her the other. Hoist the colours!"

As soon as we hoisted the colours, the schooner hoisted English colours
also.

"English colours, sir!" said the mate, grinning. "English colours, heh?
Very well; but that may be a feint--keep to your guns, my lads."

The vessel now ran by us; she was deeply laden, and as broad as she was
long.

"No privateer this time, captain," said Bramble, laughing.

"No, all's right; secure the guns, my lads. We'd have given her a nice
peppering if she'd been a French privateer."

The captain then went down below to put away his sword and pistols,
which the cabin-boy had brought on deck.

"It's my opinion, Tom," said Bramble, "that this skipper ain't quite so
fond of fighting as he pretends to be. I'll see if I can'