“A full-rigged ship!” continued a third, relieving his eye in turn, and answering to the grim smile of the soldier.
“There must be something to hold up all those lofty spars,” resumed their Commander. “A hull of price is beneath.—But you say nothing, Mr Wilder! You make her out”——
“A ship of size,” returned our adventurer, who, though hitherto silent, had been far from the least interested in his investigations. “Does my glass deceive me—or”——
“Or what, sir?”
“I see her to the heads of her courses.”
“You see her as I do. It is a tall ship on an easy bow-line, with every thing set that will draw. And she is standing hitherward. Her lower sails have lifted within five minutes.”
“I thought as much. But”——
“But what, sir? There can be little doubt but she is heading north-and-east. Since she is so kind as to spare us the pains of a chase, we will not hurry our movements. Let her come on. How like you the manner of the stranger’s advance, General?”
“Unmilitary, but enticing! There is a look of the mines about her very royals.”
“And you, gentlemen, do you also see the fashion of a galleon in her upper sails?”