"What do you think of her, Mr Mathews?" said Captain Drawlock to the first mate, who had his eye on the ship.
"She is English built and English rigged, sir, that I'll swear; look at her lower yard-arms, the squaring of her topsails. She may be French now, but the oak in her timbers grew in Old England."
"I agree with you," said Newton: "look at the rake of her stern; she is
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.