shinned up the ratlines together, and were soon
comfortably settled on the fore-topsail-yard. We remained there until
the brief twilight had so far faded that it was impossible to make out
more than the general outline of the ships, and then we descended and
made our report.

The said report amounted to this. The brigantine, we had quite made up
our minds, was either a privateer or a pirate, but of what nationality,
if the former, we were not quite clear, and the ship we took to be a
Spaniard of about five hundred tons. The water was breaking so
confusedly among and over the reefs ahead of us that we felt very
doubtful whether the boats--much less the ship--could find a way
through; but we were of opinion that there was a narrow belt of clear
water close to the shore.

Mr Martin, the master, had meanwhile brought up the chart and spread it
open upon the capstan-head; but the moment that we looked at it and
compared it with what we saw around us, it became evident that it was by
no means to be relied upon, so far at least as this particular spot was
concerned.

"'Bout ship at once, if you please, Mr Flinn," said the skipper.
"We'll go no nearer--on _this_ side at all events--I don't half like
being so close as we are now. We'll furl the topgallant-sails and take
down a reef in the topsails also."

It was done. The reefs now lay astern of us, Key Grande bore well upon
our starboard quarter, and El Roque was ahead of us, a trifle upon our
weather bow.

"Keep her away a point, quarter-master, and give that island ahead a
wide berth," said the skipper.

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Gimbals; and I thought his voice sounded strange
and melancholy in the deepening gloom.

We were now standing to the northward, or about N. by W., under single-
reefed topsails, and were going about nine knots, the spot we were in
being sheltered by the islands and shoals to windward, and the water
consequently smooth. In about half an hour's time, however, the frigate
passed out from under the lee of El Roque, and we were once more tearing
and thrashing through the short head-sea. The sky to leeward, still
aglow with the fading splendour which marked the path of the departed
sun, strongly tinged the water in its wake with tints of the purest
amber and ruby, against which the wave-crests leaped up black as ink,
while the ocean everywhere else showed a dark indigo hue. Overhead, in
the darkening ether, the stars were twinkling out one