hat
of the stranger in light winds, and was already chuckling in
anticipation over that craft's discomfiture.
She was within about five miles of us, still maintaining her relative
position of about four points on our lee-bow, when Bob served dinner on
deck, as was our custom in fine weather.
We were very busy with the viands, keeping one eye always on the brig
however, when we noticed something fluttering over her taffrail; and the
next moment a flag of some sort floated up to her peak.
I was at the tiller; so Bob took the glass, and levelling it at the
brig, gave her a more thorough scrutiny than we had bestowed upon her at
all hitherto.
"The stars and stripes, and a pennant!" exclaimed he, with his eye still
at the tube. "Lord bless us for the two pretty innocents he takes us
for, Harry; but there, of course he don't know as we've got his
character and all about him at our fingers' ends. Well, anyhow, we
won't be behindhand with him in the matter of politeness;" and therewith
Master Bob dived below, returning in a moment with our ensign and club
burgee in his hand, which he bent to their respective halliards and ran
them up--the one to our gaff-end, and the other to our mast-head.
As we had by this time finished our meal, Bob cleared the things away,
muttering something about having "plenty to do afore long besides eating
and drinking."
Our colours had not been displayed above a minute, when four small balls
were seen ascending to the brig's main royal-mast-head, where they broke
abroad and waved lazily out in the failing breeze as a signal.
Bob at once assumed the duties of signal-officer, by once more taking a
peep through the glass.
"Commercial code pennant," said he; and then he read out the flags
beneath it.
"Run down and fetch up the signal-book," said I.
He did so; we turned up the signal, and read, "Come under my lee; I wish
to speak you."
"Thank 'ee!" ejaculated Bob, "not if we can help it, Mister Johnson. I
reckon 'twould be about the most onprofitable conwersation as ever the
crew of this here cutter took a part in. We've got our own wholesome
planks to walk, aboard here, when we wants any of that sort of exercise;
and though there's not much to boast of in the way of room, I dare say
there's more of _that_ than we'd find on the plank _you'd_, give us for
a parade ground. Seems to me, Hal, as we're bringing him nearer abeam
than he was a while ago; ain't it so?"
"You are rig
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