“I went on deck and communicated to the second luff the captain’s request. As soon as he appeared, Captain Hodge called out to him—
“‘Mr. Bright, are you sure the schooner showed the British flag last night?’
“‘The British flag? Why, she—oh! yes, I am quite sure.’
“‘Could you swear to it?’
“‘I could do anything almost but swear to it.’
“‘Very well, sir. Can you come down a moment? Gentlemen, let us once more drink to the honour of the old ship—and remember that that honour should be as dear to us as our own. And now, Mr. Bright, let us overhaul the nigger as soon as possible, for, by the Great Horn Spoon, we’ll have her now if she flies the flag of every nation in Christendom!’
“All sail was immediately made on board the ‘Excellent,’ and the slaver, seeing that something was up, and that we evidently meant to overtake her, did her very best to prevent it. But, as the captain had said there were few slavers that could get away from the ‘Excellent’ when she was doing her best, and a light breeze abeam was her best point.
“Slowly but surely we overhauled her, and at noon were almost within hailing distance.
“The old man was on deck in person, and chose to assume the trumpet and negotiate the whole business himself. He had a powerful voice, and he used it as soon as there was the slightest possibility of its being heard.
“‘Come into the wind,’ he cried, ‘or I’ll blow you out of the water.’