“Come up here, then.”
“I will as soon as I get through.”
“Then let the little one go to bed,” exclaimed Waters, in a louder tone, which showed that he was getting angry; “I want you two apart; and if you don’t get apart pretty quick I’ll come down there and separate you.”
Archie went into his stateroom, and closed the door behind him, while Frank, having completed his calculations, ran up the ladder, and took charge of the deck.
During the day everything passed off smoothly. The crew were obedient and prompt, and the schooner was as well sailed as she would have been had her lawful captain been on her quarter-deck. Just before dark some interest was excited among those on board by the discovery of a large steamer, which appeared to be following in their wake. Frank watched her through his glass until the night shut her out from his view.
“Can you make her out?” asked Waters.
“No, I cannot,” answered Frank. “She is too far off.”
“Brown says she looks rather suspicious.”
“Well, he’s an old sailor, and ought to be able to tell a man-o’-war from a merchantman, even at that distance.”
“If she is following us, what time will she come up with us?”