I was irritated at any reflection upon O’Brien, and I replied, “Yes sir; they have been always accustomed to express their joy at the prospect of engaging the enemy.”
“Very well, Mr Simple,” replied he.
“How are we to put her head?” inquired the master, touching his hat; “for the chase?”
“Of course,” replied the captain, who then descended into his cabin.
“Come, my lads,” said Swinburne, as soon as the captain was below, “I have been going round, and I fine that your pets are all in good fighting order. I promise ye, you sha’n’t wait for powder. They’ll find that the Rattlesnake can bite devilish hard yet, I expect.”
“Ay, and without its head, too,” replied one of the men, who was the Joe Miller of the brig.
The chase, perceiving that she could not escape—for we were coming up with her, hand over hand, now shortened sail for action, hoisting Dutch colours.
Captain Hawkins again made his appearance on the quarter-deck, when we were within half a mile of her.
“Are we to run alongside of her, or how?” inquired I. “Mr Simple, I command her,” replied he, “and want no interference whatever.”
“Very well, sir,” replied I, and I walked to the gangway.