still at table, but with a vigilant and industrious first lieutenant on deck, who was sufficient in himself for all that was required of the vessel in any emergency.  The latter had his orders, and he executed them with a precision and attention that promised to leave nothing to be wished for.  On the other hand, the people of the Ringdove were kept at work mending old sails until the hour to “knock off work” arrived; then the ship unmoored.  At the proper time the remaining anchor was lifted, and the sloop went through the pass between Capri and Campanella, as directed, when Lyon sent for the first lieutenant to join him in his cabin.

“Look you here, McBean,” said Lyon, pointing to the chart which lay on the table; “Captain Cuffe has just run down off Piane, and will find himself well to leeward when the west wind comes to-morrow; Sir Frederick has followed famously clear of the land, and won’t be in a much better box.  Now, this lugger must be pretty picking if all they say of her be true.  Ten to one but she has gold in her.  These corsairs are desperate rogues after the siller, and, taking hull, sails, armament, head-money, and the scrapings of the lockers together, I shouldn’t marvel if she come to something as good as L8,000 or L10,000.  This would be fair dividing for a sloop, but would amount to a painfully small trifle, as between the officers of three ships, after deducting the admiral’s share.  What are you thinking of, Airchy?”

“Of just that, Captain Lyon.  It would be dividing every lieutenant’s share by three, as well as every captain’s.”

“That’s it, Airchy, and so ye’ll have a shairp lookout on deck.  There’ll be no occasion to run down quite as far as Captain Cuffe suggested, ye’ll obsairve; for, if in the bay, the lugger will work her way up toward this headland, and we’ll be all the more likely to fall in with her, by keeping near it ourselves.  Ye’ll take the idea?”

“It’s plain enou’, Captain Lyon; and I’ll be obsairving it.  How is the law understood as respects dairkness?  I understand that none share but such as are in sight; but is dairkness deemed a legal impediment?”

“To be sure it is; the idea being that all who can see may act.  Now, if we catch the lugger before Captain Cuffe and Sir Frederick even know where she is, on what principle can they aid and sustain us in the capture?”

“And you wish a shairp lookout the night, Captain Lyon?”

“That’s just it, Airchy.  Ye’ll all be doing your best in the way of eyes, and we may get the lugger alone.  ’Twould be such a pity, Mr. McBean, to divide by three, when the sums might be kept entire!”

Such was the state of feeling with which each of these three officers entered on his present duty.  Cuffe was earnest in the wish to catch his enemy, and this principally for the credit of the thing, though a little out of a desire to revenge his own losses; Sir Frederick Dashwood, indifferent to all but his own pleasures; and Lyon, closely attentive to the main chance.  An hour or two later, or just before Cuffe turned in, he sent a message to request the presence of his first lieutenant, if the latter were still up.  Winchester was writing up his private journal; closing the book, he obeyed the order in that quiet, submissive manner which a first lieutenant is more apt to use toward his captain than toward any one else.