“I agree with you,” said Newton: look at the rake of her stern; she’s English all over.
“Then why don’t she answer the private signal?” said Captain Drawlock.
“She’s right in the wind’s eye of us, sir, and our flags are blowing end on from her.”
“There goes up her bunting, sir,” cried the first-mate.
“English, as I said. The commodore is answering, sir. Up with the ensign there abaft. All’s right, tell the ladies.”
“I will; I’ll go and inform them,” said the colonel; who immediately descended to impart the joyful intelligence.
The frigate bore down, and hove to. The commodore of the India squadron went on board, when he found that she was cruising for some large Dutch store-ships and vessels armed en flute, which were supposed to have sailed from Java. In a quarter of an hour, she again made sail, and parted company, leaving the Indiamen to secure their guns, and pursue their course.
There are two parties, whose proceedings we had overlooked; we refer to Miss Tavistock and Dr Plausible. The latter handed the lady to her cabin, eased her down upon her couch, and, taking her hand gently, retained it in his own, while with his other he continued to watch her pulse.
“Do not alarm yourself, my dear Miss Tavistock; your sensibility is immense. I will not leave you. I cannot think what could have induced you to trust yourself on such a voyage of danger and excitement.”
“Oh! Dr Plausible, where my affections are centred, there is nothing, weak creature that I am, but my soul would carry me through:— indeed I am all soul.—I have a dear friend in India.”