“Where away?” called the officer of the forward watch.
“About three points off our weather bows.”
“What do you make of her?”
“Can’t make her out yet!”
While this bawling was going on aloft, the captain of the ship sat quietly over his rubber of whist.
Presently Lieutenant Ethel came below, touched his cap, and said:
“If you please, sir, we have made a strange sail.”
“What do you make of her?” inquired the captain, without ceasing to deal his cards.
“We can make nothing of her as yet, except that she appears to have seen us and is running away.”
“That proves her to be the Sea Scourge, or some other pirate! Clap on all the sail we can carry, and chase!—— Diamonds! Parson, it is your lead, and we are waiting for you. Miss Conyers, look sharp! We are playing for the odd trick,” said the captain, as he turned up the trump and sorted his cards.