great matter, after all."

"It is some such matter, Captain Garner, as walkin' round a meetin'-'us'
when your ar'n'd is in at the door in front. But there was no such craft
in at Stunnin'tun or New London, as I know from havin' been at both places
within the last eight-and-forty hours."

"You begin to make me as curious about this fellow as you seem to be
yourself, sir. And now I think the matter all over, it is somewhat
extr'or'nary he should be just where he is. It is, however, a very easy
thing to get a nearer look at him, and it's no great matter to us,
intending as we do to make the islands off the Cape de Verde, if we do
lose a little of our weatherly position--keep the schooner away a point,
and get a small pull on your weather braces--give her a little sheet too,
fore and aft, sir. So, that will do--keep her steady at that--south-east
and by south. In two hours we shall just about speak this out-of-the-way
joker."

As every command was obeyed, the Sea Lion was soon running off free, her
bowlines hanging loose, and all her canvass a rap full. The change in her
line of sailing drought the sail to leeward, a little forward of her beam;
but the movement of the vessel that made the freest wind was consequently
the most rapid. In the course of half an hour the stranger was again a
little abaft the beam, and he was materially nearer than when first seen.
No change was made in the route of the stranger, who now seemed disposed
to stand out to sea, with the wind as it was, on an easy bowline, without
paying any attention to the sail in sight.

It was noon ere the two schooners came within hail of each other. Of
course, as they drew nearer and nearer, it was possible for those on board
of each to note the appearance, equipments, and other peculiarities of his
neighbour. In size, there was no apparent difference between the vessels,
and there was a somewhat remarkable resemblance in the details.

"That fellow is no West India drogger," said Roswell Gardiner, when less
than a mile from the stranger. "He carries a boat on deck, as we do, and
has one on each quarter, too. Can it be possible that he is bound after
seals, as well as we are ourselves!"

"I believe you're right, sir," answered Hazard, the chief-mate, who was
now on deck. "There's a sealing look about the gentleman, if I know my own
complexion. It's odd enough, Captain Gar'ner, that two of us should come
together, out here in the offing, and both of us bound