“What say you to that, leftenant?” said the captain.

“Oh, as to that,” said the mate, “it isn’t very likely that he’s going to tell us the truth.”

“Because you would not have done it yourself in the same situation,” said I.

“Just so,” said the mate.

And in fact, I must own that I had no particular wish to cruise for some months in this vessel, and go back for water at Tristan d’Acunha I therefore did not use my very best optical skill when I gave my opinion; but as I saw the stranger was nearing us very fast, although we were steering the same way, I made my mind up that I should very soon be out of this vessel, and on my way to England, where all my happiness and prospects were centred.

The chief mate took one more look—­the captain followed his example; they then looked at each other, and pronounced their cruise at an end.

“We are done, sir,” said the mate; “and all owing to that d——­d English renegado that you would enter on the books as one of the ship’s company.  But let’s have him aft, and give him his discharge regularly.”

“First of all,” said the captain, “suppose we try what is to be done with our heels.  They used to be good, and I never saw the brass-bottomed sarpent that could come anear us yet.  Send the royal yards up—­clear away the studding-sails—­keep her with the wind just two points abaft the beam, that’s her favourite position; and I think we may give the slip to that old-country devil in the course of the night.”

I said nothing, but looked very attentively to all that was doing.  The vessel was well manned, certainly, and all sail was set upon her in a very expeditious manner.

“Heave the log,” said the captain.

They did so; and she was going, by their measurement, nine and six.

“What do you think your ship is doing?” said the captain to me.

“I think,” said I, “she is going about eleven knots; and, as she is six miles astern of you, that she will be within gunshot in less than four hours.”

“Part of that time shall be spent in paying our debts for this favour,” said the captain.  “Mr Solomon, let them seize that no-nation rascal up to the main rigging, and hand up two of your most hungry cats.  Where is Dick Twist, he that was boatswain’s mate of the Statira; and that red-haired fellow, you know, that swam away from the Maidstone in the Rappahanock?”

“You mean carroty Sam, I guess—­pass the word for Sam Gall.”

The two operators soon appeared, each armed with the instruments of his office; and I must say that, in malignity of construction, they were equal to any thing used on similar occasions even by Captain G——.  The culprit was now brought forward, and to my surprise it was the very man whom Thompson, when in the boat, had thrown overboard for mutiny.  I cannot say that I felt sorry for the cause or the effect that was likely to be produced by the disputes of the day.