The young lieutenant went on deck with his orders. And soon the ship flew under the pressure of her sails.
The captain went on with his game, and played well; and as none of his excited companions could give sufficient attention to the business in hand fairly to compete with him, he won the odd trick.
“We’ve beat them in the rub, Miss Conyers. Shall we try to beat them in another one?” inquired the captain, as he gathered up the cards.
“Oh, no! pray don’t! let us go up on deck and look after the chase!” eagerly urged Britomarte.
“You!” exclaimed the captain, in laughing astonishment.
“Yes, I!” answered Britomarte, as her eyes widened and brightened.
“Lord bless my soul alive, here is a young lady as eager for the fray as any of us?” laughed the captain. “I’ll warrant you, when you get back to your native country, if the war is not over, to take an active part in it!”
“That I shall!” answered Britomarte, emphatically. And all the while she looked her eager impatience to get upon the deck.
“There is no necessity for haste, my dear young lady! We shall see nothing when we get there—except what we have seen for so many days and nights—an expanse of sea and sky!” laughed the captain.
“But the strange sail?” eagerly questioned our amazon.