d in the water.

"That lantern went into a boat, Captain Ludlow, though a lubber carried
it!" said the positive old forecastle-man, shaking his head and beginning
to pace across the deck, with the air of a man who needed no further
confirmation of his suspicions.

Ludlow returned towards the quarter-deck, thoughtful but calm. He passed
among his sleeping crew, without awaking a man, and even forbearing to
touch the still motionless midshipman, he entered his cabin without
speaking.

The commander of the Coquette was absent but a few minutes. When he again
appeared on deck, there was more of decision and of preparation in his
manner.

"'Tis time to call the watch, Mr. Reef;" he whispered at the elbow of the
drowsy officer of the deck, without betraying his consciousness of the
youth's forgetfulness of duty. "The glass is out."

"Ay, ay, Sir.--Bear a hand, and turn the glass!" muttered the young man.
"A fine night, Sir, and very smooth water.--I was just thinking of----"

"Home and thy mother! 'Tis the way with us all in youth. Well, we have
now something else to occupy the thoughts. Muster all the gentlemen, here,
on the quarter-deck, Sir."

"When the half-sleeping midshipman quitted his captain to obey this order,
the latter drew near the spot where Trysail still lay in an unquiet sleep.
A light touch of a single finger was sufficient to raise the master on his
feet. The first look of the veteran tar was aloft, the second at the
heavens, and the last at his captain.

"I fear thy wound stiffens, and that the night air has added to the pain?"
observed the latter, speaking in a kind and considerate tone.

"The wounded spar cannot be trusted like a sound stick, Captain Ludlow;
but as I am no foot-soldier on a march, the duty of the ship may go on
without my calling for a horse."

"I rejoice in thy cheerful spirit, my old friend, for here is serious work
likely to fall upon our hands. The Frenchmen are in their boats, and we
shall shortly be brought to close quarters, or prognostics are false."

"Boats!" repeated the master. "I had rather it were under our canvas, with
a stiff breeze! The play of this ship is a lively foot, and a touching
leech but, when, it comes to boats, a marine is nearly as good a man as a
quarter-master!"

"We must take fortune as it offers.--Here is our council!--It is composed
of young heads, but of hearts that might do credit to gray hairs."

Ludlow joined the little group of officers