men how a Leith smack beat off a privateer the other day;
I never heard of it."

"Yes, I heard it when I was up above Greenwich. I met an old friend who
was on board of her, for he took his passage in her from London.

"`Why,' says he to me, `Bramble, I thought we never should have got away
from the river, for the old captain, who was as big round as a puncheon,
and not unlike one, declared that he would not sail until the powder
came up from Woolwich; for the Queen Charlotte (that was the name of the
smack) carried six eighteen-pound carronades. We waited nearly a week
for the powder, and many a laugh we all had about it, thinking old
Nesbitt was not much of a fighter, from his making so much fuss. Well,
at last we boomed her off from the wharf, and about seven that night got
clear of the Thames; it was a fine breeze all night, and we ran through
the Swin by the lead, which is what every one won't attempt: next
morning we were off Yarmouth Roads, with the water as yellow as
pea-soup; never saw it otherwise, and I'm an old collier; reason why,
the swells of the ocean thrashes up the sands off there--ay, and shifts
them too occasionally, which is of more consequence. Well, Bramble,'
says he, `well, on we went; hauled in through Harborough Gut; then the
sun had so much power--for it was in the Dog Days--that it eat up the
wind, and we were obliged to content ourselves with getting four knots
out of her. Just as we made the Dudgeon Light-Boat, old Nesbitt's son
comes aft to his father, who was steering the craft, and says, "Father,
do you see that 'ere brig crowding all sail after us? I think it be the
New Custom House brig trying his rate of sailing with us."

"`"Never you mind what she is, boy," says the captain, "but away up and
furl the gaff-topsail."

"`Meanwhile the brig overhauled us fast, and old Nesbitt kept a-looking
round at her every two or three minutes. At last he says to the mate,
"Take the wheel a bit," and he goes first and looks over the quarter.
"I see," says he; "I say, you sergeant and corporal," (for we had a
recruiting party on board), "suppose now you just help us to load our
guns and work them a little, for I expect this here craft will give us
plenty to do."

"`Well, Bramble, as I stand here, if six of them lobsters didn't say
nothing, but just walk down below: but the sergeant was a trump of a
fellow, and so was his wife; he threw off his coat and cap covered with
ribands, tied a hand