re, the
weather continuing fine; but the sky giving indubitable signs of the
approach of the stormy and rainy season, we beat back along shore to
pick up our boats. The wind had been veering about for some time, and
at length seemed to have made up its mind to enjoy a stiffish blow out
of the south-west. This, of course, would have kicked up a considerable
surf on the bar, and as Jenkins had orders, as soon as he saw signs of
such being the case, to come out and look out for us, we were in hourly
expectation of falling in with the boats. We had, however, seen nothing
of them, though we kept a very sharp look-out, and had almost got up to
the mouth of the river, when, in the afternoon watch, I bethought me
that by way of a change I would go aloft, and try if a fresh pair of
eyes would see farther than those of the man stationed there. I had
been up about five minutes, when my eye fell on the white canvas of a
largish vessel standing along shore under easy sail. She had a most
suspicious look; indeed, I felt convinced that she, at all events, was a
slaver. I was on deck in an instant, and, hurrying into the captain's
cabin with a look of triumph, though I tried to be perfectly calm and
unconcerned, I uttered the words, "A sail on the lee beam!"

"Very well, Mr Rawson. What does she look like?" said the captain.

"She's a large topsail schooner, sir, and she's without doubt a slaver,"
I answered quite calmly, as a matter of course.

"What, another of your slavers?" he answered. "I'm afraid they'll all
turn out Flying Dutchmen."

"Not this time, sir, I'm certain," I replied. "Shall we make sail in
chase?"

"Oh, certainly--certainly!" he replied. "I'll be on deck immediately
myself."

I flew on deck, and, without waiting for him, sang out, in a cheery
voice, to the boatswain, "Turn the hands up! Make sail!" The pipe
sounded along the decks with a shriller sound than usual, I thought, and
the news that a suspicious sail was in sight having already travelled
below, the men were all ready, and flew aloft before the last sound of
the order was given. The gear of the courses was overhauled whilst the
topgallant-sails and royals were being loosed, and in a few seconds all
plain sail was made on the brig. The stranger, who had not apparently
before seen us, was not long in following our example. He set his
foresail, topgallant-sail, and royal, gaff-topsail and flying-jib, in
addition to the canvas he had been