how trim and
taut her rigging and running gear stand out, and then, too, see how
smartly she is handled. Only English ships are thus. Hythe is a
sailor, every inch of him," he went on in genuine admiration for the
approaching vessel. "See! He has the weather gauge of us now, or will
have. Not that it matters anything. We could afford to let him have
it even if he were an enemy; but what he means by this sort of
performance, I don't understand. However, we shall know in half an
hour at least."

"Well, sir?" he said, turning toward Lieutenant Desborough, who at that
moment stepped on the poop in fighting uniform, sword in hand.

"Ship's ready for action, sir!"

"Very good. Keep the people at their quarters, and stand on as we are.
Ah, Mr. Montagu, will you step below and fetch me my sword out of my
cabin. What do you think of her, Desborough?"

"We think she is an American, sir," said Desborough.

"Oh, you do, do you? Well, I think she is one of ours. No American
would dare to lead down on us in that way! We can blow him out of the
water with a broadside or two, you know, but we 'll give him a hint all
the same. Fire a gun there, to leeward, and hoist our colors."

As the smoke rolled away along the water, the stops were broken, and
there flew out from each masthead the splendid English flag. It was
answered soon afterward by a small English flag at the gaff of the
approaching ship, which apparently mystified the captain more than
ever, though it confirmed him in his previous opinion.

"Oh, father," whispered Katharine, clinging to the colonel, "what do
you think it is? See that English flag!"

"Kate, I 'm morally sure that it is an American ship; it is just the
plan and size of those ordered by Congress in '75. One of those ships
should be in commission by now. If I am right, this should be the
Randolph. I saw her a dozen times in Philadelphia; and if that's not
she, I shall never pretend to know a ship again."

"But did you hear what Captain Vincent said?" continued Katharine; "how
many guns would the Randolph carry?"

"About forty, and most of them small ones at best," answered the
colonel, with a sigh.

The two ships were much nearer now, and their disparity in force was
apparent even to the most unskilful eye.

"The little ship can't fight this great one, father, can it?"

"No, my dear; that is, not with any chance of success. But I fear--or
hope, rather--that they mean to engage u