“You’ve guessed right,” replied Jack.
“What ship, and from what port?”
“Rhode Island, the Susan and Mary,” replied Gascoigne.
“I thought you were north. We’re of New York. What news do you bring?”
“Nothing,” replied he, “we are from Liverpool last.”
A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market was?
It was necessary to make and reply to all these inquiries before they could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at last Gascoigne inquired:
“Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat has not been on board.”
“They’ll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not say much; they’re not over-particular, I’ve a notion.”
“What are those vessels lying inshore?”