d, after a glance at a long,
low, red-sailed lugger, about a couple of miles ahead, sailing fast in
the light breeze.

He took the spyglass, and, going forward, looked long and steadily at
the lugger before saying a word.

"Well, sir?"

"French lugger, certainly, Leigh," he said, quietly; "fresh from the
fishing-ground I should say. They wouldn't attempt to run a cargo now."

"But you'll overhaul her, sir, won't you?"

"It's not worth while, Leigh, but as you have roused me up, it will be
something to do. Here, call the lads up. Where's Waters? Waters!"

"Ay, ay, sir," replied that worthy in a voice of thunder, though he was
close at hand.

"Load the long gun, and be ready to fire."

"Ay, ay, sir."

There was no beating to quarters, for the little crew were on deck, and
every man fell naturally into his place as the lieutenant seemed now to
wake up to his work, and glanced at the sails, which were all set, and
giving his orders sharply and well, a pull was taken at a sheet here and
a pull there, the helm altered, and in spite of the lightness of the
breeze the _Kestrel_ began to work along with an increase of speed of
quite two knots an hour.

"Now then, Leigh, shall we ever have her, or shall we have to throw a
shot across her bows to bring her to?"

"Let them have a shot, sir," cried the young officer, whose cheeks were
beginning to flush with excitement, as he watched the quarry of which
the little falcon was in chase.

"And waste the king's powder and ball, eh? No, Leigh, there will be no
need. But we may as well put on our swords."

Meanwhile, Billy Waters was busy unlashing the tail of Long Tom, as he
called the iron gun forward, and with a pat of affection he opened the
ammunition chest, and got out the flannel bag of powder and smiled at a
messmate, rammer in hand.

"Let's give him his breakfast, or else he won't bark," he said, with a
grin; and the charge was rammed home, the ball sent after it with a big
wad to keep it in its place, and the men waited eagerly for the order to
fire.

Billy Waters knew that that would not come for some time, so he sidled
up to Hilary, and whispered as the young man was buckling on his sword,
the lieutenant having gone below to exchange a shabby cap for his cocked
hat, "Let me have your sword a minute, sir, and I'll make it like a
razor."

Hilary hesitated for a moment, and then drew it, and held it out to the
gunner, who went below, and by the time th