“I will do my best, sir,” quietly replied Percival taking up a convenient position for conning the ship.
“I feel sure you will, sir,” returned the skipper. “Say when we shall cut.”
“At once, sir, if you please,” was the reply.
“Cut, and cut with a will!” said Mr Annesley. Three or four quick strokes were heard, the frigate’s head paid slowly off until her sails filled, when the head-yards were swung, the fore-and-main-tacks were boarded, the sheets hauled aft, and every sail trimmed as if for a sailing-match.
The fact that our movements were closely watched became apparent the moment that the hands appeared in the rigging to loose the sails, a very perceptible stir taking place on board the brig, while lights rapidly made their appearance in the several batteries.
“We are about to have a warm quarter of an hour,” remarked the skipper, who had been keenly noting these sinister indications, while the first luff was getting the ship under weigh. “Let the crew go to quarters at once, if you please, Mr Annesley.”
“Ay, ay, sir!” was the reply. “If we only had a little more wind—and there it comes—blow, good breezes, blow! I believe we shall scrape clear, after all. Beat to quarters!”
A sharp roll of the drum immediately broke in upon the quietude of the night; there was a momentary bustle—but only momentary the men having already gone to quarters, as a matter of course—and then all was profound silence once more on board, save for a gentle rippling sound beneath the bows and along the sides, and the occasional creak of a block aloft.
“Say when you wish to tack, Mr Percival,” said the first luff, stationing himself alongside the master’s-mate.
“Not yet, sir,” said Percival; “the wind is favouring us a little just now—there it freshens a trifle, and she looks up better than ever. Keep her a good clean full, quarter-master, and let her go through the water. I wish there was not quite so much tide, though it is in our favour; it is setting us bodily down towards the shoal water. Keep the lead going, there, in the fore-chains. We should do none the worse, sir, if the Frenchmen’s boat were cut adrift.”