f the mate. "They do not look like first-rate man-of-war's-men;
by activity and surprise, could we not handle them?"

Marble laid a finger on his nose, winked, looked as sagacious as he knew
how, and then went to the steerage door, which communicated with the
companion-way, to listen if all were safe in that quarter. Assured that
there was no one near, he communicated his thoughts as follows:

"The same idee has been at work here," he said, tapping his forehead with
a fore-finger, "and good may come of it This Mr. Sennit is a cunning chap,
and will want good looking after, but his mate drinks like a coal-heaver;
I can see that in his whole face; a top-lantern is not lighter. _He_ must
be handled by brandy. Then, a more awkward set of long-shore fellows were
never sent to manage a square-rigged craft, than these which have been
sent from the Speedy. They must have given us the very sweepings of
the hold."

"You know how it is with these dashing young man-of-war captains; they
keep all their best materials for a fight. French frigates are tolerably
plenty, they tell me, and this Lord Harry Dermond, much as he loves sugar
and coffee, would like to fall in with a la Vigilante, or a la Diane, of
equal force, far better. This is the secret of his giving Sennit such a
set of raw ones. Besides, he supposes the Dawn will be at Plymouth in
eight-and-forty hours, as will certainly be the case should this
wind stand."

"The fellows are just so many London loafers. (I have always thought
Marble had the merit of bringing this word into fashion.) There are but
three seamen among them, and _they_ are more fit for a hospital than for a
lowyer-yard or a jib-boom."

There was a good deal of truth, blended with some exaggeration, mixed up
with this statement of tire mate. As a matter of course, the captain of
the Speedy had not sent away his best men, though they were not quite as
bad as Marble, in his desire to overcome them, was disposed to fancy. It
is true, there were but three of their number whom the quick, nautical
instinct of the mate had recognised as real seamen, though all had been on
board ship long enough to render them more or less useful.

"Whatever we do must be done at once," I rejoined. "We are four athletic
men, to act against twelve. The odds are heavy, but we shall have the
advantage of being picked men, and of attacking by surprise."

"I wish you had thought of asking to keep Voorhees in the ship, Miles;
that f