"One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as I can judge in the gray, that it is our old friend off here."
"What! old Appleboy?"
"Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet."
"Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the wind we can show him our heels; but are you sure the other is a yacht?" said Pickersgill, coming on deck.
"Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas."
"You're right," said Pickersgill, "that is a yacht; and you're right there again in your guess—that is the stupid old Active, which creeps about creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present, provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boat as soon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch his motions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now? Four knots?—that will soon tire their men."
The positions of the three cutters were as follows:—
The Happy-go-lucky was about four miles off Portland Head, and well into West Bay. The revenue cutter was close to the Head. The yacht was outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five or six miles from the revenue cutter.
"Two vessels in sight, sir," said Mr Smith, coming down into the cabin to Mr Appleboy.
"Very well," replied the lieutenant, who was lying down in his standing bed-place.