go ashore, pilot?"

I asked.

"Thank you, sir; I've no objection," was the response; and we were just
turning away toward the saloon companion when the mate stepped quietly
up to me and said--

"I suppose we may as well rig out the stu'n'sail-booms all ready for
making sail as soon as the pilot has left us? It will be a pity not to
make the most of this fair wind while it lasts."

"Certainly," I replied, somewhat unwillingly; for, truth to tell, I
thought it would be quite time enough to hurry when my poor mother had
gone ashore and we were on the other side of the Bill of Portland.

Roberts, however, evidently regarded the matter from a very different
standpoint from that which I occupied--perhaps he was anxious already to
show off the ship's pace--for, ere I had time to reach the companion,
his voice rang out loud and clear--

"Lay aft here, some of you lads, and rouse out the stu'n'sail gear; the
rest of you slip up aloft and cast loose the larboard fore-topmast and
topgallant stu'n'sail boom, ready for rigging out. Take a line aloft
with you, and send the end down on deck for the gear as soon as you are
ready. Look alive, my hearties!" Then, _sotto voce_, "Yon schooner is
a beauty, and no mistake; but she is not going to be allowed to run away
from this clipper if I can help it!"

So that was the explanation of friend Roberts's impatience! He had been
so long in the _Esmeralda_, and had been so accustomed to beating
everything that had been fallen in with, that he could not endure with
equanimity the sight of even a yacht running away from him. "It is
evident," thought I, "that the grass will have very little chance of
growing on this ship's copper so long as Roberts is mate of her. But I
shall have to keep an eye on the fellow, or perhaps he will be taking
the sticks out of her, or laying her on her beam-ends some day in the
excitement and enthusiasm of a race with something bigger and more
nimble than ourselves."

At length, to Roberts's unconcealed gratification, the pilot went down
over the side and shoved off, and we were left to our own resources.

"Up with your helm and let her pay off!" was now the word; "round-in
upon the starboard main-braces; now your larboard fore-braces; well
there; belay! Now rig out your booms, there, as soon as you are ready,
and let's get some muslin on the little beauty." And forthwith the mate
put in a pleasant hour decking the ship with her larboard
studding-s