dy nebba lost here. Now, Massa Easy,
let um go 'bout gain. Somebody else burn biscuit and boil kettle
to-morrow for de gentlemen. Murder Irish! only tink, Massa Easy--I boil
kettle, and prince in my own country!"

Easy was very much of a mind with Mesty; "for," argued Jack, "if I go
back now, I only bring a small vessel half full of beans, and I shall be
ashamed to show my face. Now it is true, that they may suppose that we
have been sunk by the fire of the gun-boat. Well, what then? they have
a gun-boat to show for their night's work, and it will appear that there
was harder fighting than there has been, and Mr Sawbridge may benefit
by it." (Jack was a very knowing fellow to have learned so much about
the service already.) "Well, and when they discover that we are not
lost, how glad they will be to find us, especially if we bring some
prizes--which I will do, or I'll not go back again. It's not often that
one gets a command before being two months at sea, and, hang me, now
I've got it if I won't keep it; and Mr Smallsole may mast-head whom he
pleases. I'm sorry for poor Gossett though; if Vigors supposes me dead
how he will murder the poor little fellow--however, it's all for the
good of the service, and I'll revenge him when I come back. Hang me if
I won't take a cruise."

"I talk to the men, they say thay all tick to you like leech. Now dat
job settled, I tink we better go 'bout again."

A short time after this decision on the part of our hero, the day broke:
Jack first looked to leeward, and perceived the gun-boat and convoy
standing in for the shore about ten miles distant, followed by the
_Harpy_, under all sail. He could also perceive the captured gun-boat
lying to in-shore to prevent their escape.

"_Harpy_ hab um all, by Gosh!" cried Mesty; "I ab notion dat she soon
settle um hash."

They were so busy looking at the _Harpy_ and the convoy, that, for some
time, they quite forgot to look to windward. At last Mesty turned his
eyes that way.

"Dam um, I see right last night; look, Massa Easy--one chip, one brig
tree lateen--dem for us. By de power, but we make _bon_ prize
to-night."

The vessels found out by Mesty were not above three miles to windward;
they were under all sail, beating up for the protection of a battery not
far distant.

"Now, Massa, suppose dey see our boat, dey tink something; keep boat
alongside, and shift her when we go 'bout every time: better not sail so
fast now--kee