that her nation also might have puzzled one familiar
with such a subject. The lofty spread of canvas, the jib, flying-jib
and fore-staysail, that are rarely worn save by the larger class of
merchantmen, gave rather an odd appearance to a craft that could
count hardly more than an hundred tons measurement.

Besides her fore and mainsail, and those already named, the
schooner, for so we must call her, carried two heavy, but graceful
topsails upon her fore and mainmasts, and even a jigger sail or
spanker and gaff above it, on a slender spur rigged from the quarter
deck. Altogether the schooner with her various appurtenances,
resembled such a yacht as some of the English noblemen sail in the
channel and about the Isle of Man in the sporting season.

The schooner was not unobserved from the shore, and a careful
observer could have noticed a group of persons that were evidently
regarding her with no common interest from the landing just above
the harbor of Anapa.

"That must be the craft that has been so long expected," said one of
the group, "and we had best get our girls ready at once to put on
board before the morning."

"This comes in a bad time, for the steamer should be here before
nightfall."

"That's true; as she doesn't seem inclined to run in too close,
perhaps she knows it."

"What was the signal agreed upon?" asked the first speaker of his
companion, who was silently regarding the schooner.

"A red flag at the foretopmast head, and there it goes. Yes, it is
here sure enough."

"How like a witch she looks."

"They say she will outsail anything between here and Gibraltar, in
any wind."

"What does that mean? she's going about."

"Sure enough, and up goes her foresail, they work with a will and
are in a hurry."

"She don't like the looks of something on the coast," said the
other.

The fact was, while the schooner lay under the easy sail we have
described, just off the port of Anapa, the little Russian government
steamer that plies between Odessa and the ports along the Circassian
coast held by the emperor's troops, hove in sight, having just come
down the Sea of Azoff through the Straits of Yorkcale. Her dark line
of smoke was discovered by those on board the schooner, before she
had doubled the headland of Tatman, and it was very plain, that, let
the schooner's purpose be what it might, she desired to avoid all
unnecessary observation, and especially that of the steamer.

A single movement of t