k-cloths caused the young sailor to bend his head aside, and he then
saw that the master had drawn as near to his person as discipline would
warrant. Ludlow had a great respect for the professional attainments that
his inferior unquestionably possessed; and he was not without some
consideration for the chances of a fortune, which had not done much to
reward the privations and the services of a seaman old enough to be his
father. The recollection of these facts always disposed him to be
indulgent to a man who had little, beyond his seaman-like character and
long experience, to recommend him.

"We are likely to have a thick night, Master Trysail," said the young
captain, without deeming it necessary to change his look, "and we may yet
be brought on a bowline, before yonder insolent is overhauled."

The master smiled, like one who knew more, than he expressed, find
gravely shook his head.

"We may have many pulls on our bowlines, and some squaring of yards, too,
before the Coquette (the figure-head of the sloop-of-war was also a
female) gets near enough to the dark-faced woman, under the bowsprit of
the brigantine, to whisper her mind. You and I have been nigh enough to
see the white of her eyes, and to count the teeth she shows, in that
cunning grin of hers,--and what good has come of our visit? I am but a
subordinate, Captain Ludlow, and I know my duty too well not to be silent
in a squall, and I hope too well not to know how to speak when my
commander wishes the opinions of his officers at a council; and therefore
mine, just now, is perhaps different from that of some others in this
ship, that I will not name, who are good men, too, though none of the
oldest."

"And what is thy opinion, Trysail?--the ship is doing well, and she
carries her canvas bravely."

"The ship behaves like a well-bred young woman in the presence of the
Queen; modest, but stately--but, of what use is canvas, in a chase where
witchcraft breeds squalls, and shortens sail in one vessel, while it gives
flying kites to another! If Her Majesty, God bless her! should be ever
persuaded to do so silly a thing as to give old Tom Trysail a ship, and
the said ship lay, just here-a-way, where the Coquette is now getting
along so cleverly, why then, as in duty bound, I know very well what her
commander would do----"

"Which would be----?"

"To, in all studding-sails, and bring the vessel on the wind."

"That would be to carry you to the southward, whil