“But we shall lose the ship.”

“Find her again, by—and—by, Massa Easy.”

“But they will think that we are lost.”

“So much the better, nebba look after us, Massa Easy; I guess we have a fine cruise anyhow. Morrow we take large vessel—make sail, take more, den we go to Toulon.”

“But I don’t know my way to Toulon; I know it lies up this way, and that’s all.”

“Dat enough, what you want more? Massa Easy, ‘pose you not find fleet, fleet soon find you. By God, nobody nebba lost here. Now, Massa Easy, let um go ‘bout gain. Somebody else burn biscuit and boil kettle to—morrow for de gentlemen. Murder Irish! only tink,

Massa Easy—I boil kettle, and prince in my own country.”

Easy was very much of a mind with Mesty; “for,” argued Jack, “if I go back now, I only bring a small vessel half full of beans, and I shall be ashamed to show my face. Now it is true that they may suppose that we have been sunk by the fire of the gun—boat. Well, what then? They have a gun—boat to show for their night’s work, and it will appear that there was harder fighting than there has been, and Mr. Sawbridge may benefit by it.” (Jack was a very knowing fellow to have learnt so much about the service already.) “Well, and when they discover that we are not lost, how glad they will be to find us, especially if we bring some prizes— which I will do, or I’ll not go back again. It’s not often that one gets a command before being two months at sea, and, hang me, now I’ve got it, if I won’t keep it; and Mr. Smallsole may mast—head whom he pleases. I’m sorry for poor Gossett though; if Vigors supposes me dead how he will murder the poor little fellow— however, it’s all for the good of the service, and I’ll revenge him when I come back. Hang me if I won’t take a cruise.”

“I talk to the men, they say they all tick to you like leech. Now dat job settled, I tink we better go ’bout again.”

A short time after this decision on the part of out hero, the day broke: Jack first looked to leeward, and perceived the gun—boat and convoy standing in for the shore about ten miles distant, followed by the Harpy, under all sail. He could also perceive the captured gun—boat lying to in—shore to prevent their escape.

“Harpy hab um all, by Gosh!” cried Mesty. “I ab notion dat she soon settle um hash.”

They were so busy looking at the Harpy and the convoy, that, for some time, they quite forgot to look to windward. At last Mesty turned his eyes that way.

“Dam um, I see right last night; look, Massa Easy —one chip, one brig tree lateen—dem for us. By de power, but we make bon prize to—night.”

The vessels found out by Mesty were not above three miles to windward; they were under all sail, beating up for the protection of a battery not far distant.

“Now, Massa, suppose they see our boat, dey tink something; keep boat alongside, and shift her when we go ’bout every time: better not sail so fast now—keep further off till they drop anchor for de night; and den, when it dark, we take ’em.”

All Mesty’s advice was good, with the exception perhaps of advising our hero how to disobey orders and take a cruise. To prevent the vessel from approaching too near the others, and at the same time to let her have the appearance of doing her best, a sail was towed overboard under the bows, and after that they watched the motions of the Harpy.