ws?" said Captain Drawlock to the
first-mate, who had his eye on the ship.

"She is English built and English rigged, sir, that I'll swear; look at
her lower yard-arms, the squaring of her topsails. She may be French
now, but the oak in her timbers grew in old England."

"I agree with you," said Newton: look at the rake of her stern; she's
English all over.

"Then why don't she answer the private signal?" said Captain Drawlock.

"She's right in the wind's eye of us, sir, and our flags are blowing end
on from her."

"There goes up her bunting, sir," cried the first-mate.

"English, as I said. The commodore is answering, sir. Up with the
ensign there abaft. All's right, tell the ladies."

"I will; I'll go and inform them," said the colonel; who immediately
descended to impart the joyful intelligence.

The frigate bore down, and hove to. The commodore of the India squadron
went on board, when he found that she was cruising for some large Dutch
store-ships and vessels armed _en flute_, which were supposed to have
sailed from Java. In a quarter of an hour, she again made sail, and
parted company, leaving the Indiamen to secure their guns, and pursue
their course.

There are two parties, whose proceedings we had overlooked; we refer to
Miss Tavistock and Dr Plausible. The latter handed the lady to her
cabin, eased her down upon her couch, and, taking her hand gently,
retained it in his own, while with his other he continued to watch her
pulse.

"Do not alarm yourself, my dear Miss Tavistock; your sensibility is
immense. I will not leave you. I cannot think what could have induced
you to trust yourself on such a voyage of danger and excitement."

"Oh! Dr Plausible, where my affections are centred, there is nothing,
weak creature that I am, but my soul would carry me through:--indeed I
am all soul.--I have a dear friend in India."

"He is most happy," observed the doctor, with a sigh.

"He, Dr Plausible! you quite shock me!--Do you imagine for a moment
that I would go out to follow any gentleman? No, indeed, I am not going
out on speculation, as some young ladies:--I have enough of my own,
thank God! I keep my carriage and corresponding establishment, I assure
you."--(The very thing that Dr Plausible required.)

"Indeed! my dear Miss Tavistock, is it then really a female friend?"

"Yes! the friend of my childhood. I have ventured this tedious,
dangerous voyage, once more to fold her in my arms."