"Certainly not without orders," said Derval; "go below and report this to the Captain."
In a few minutes Captain Talbot came on deck, and took the glass from Derval's hand. After a time, he said:
"I make her out to be a sharp-bowed or clipper-built barque or brigantine, with a small mast rigged aft, with an enormous fore and aft mainsail; she is about 600 tons or more, and full of men—very full of men, for a merchant vessel."
"How far is she astern, sir?"
"About eight miles—I can see the water curling white under her fore-foot."
"She shows no colours or signal."
"Which she would be sure to do if she wished to speak to us; any way, we'll show her ours. Run up the ensign."
No response was made to this, and the blue flag of the Naval Reserve floated out in vain from the gaff; and the silent craft, with its crowded deck, came steadily on, and was overhauling the Amethyst so fast that ere long, as the distance between them lessened, many coloured and even black faces could be seen among her crew.
"She does not require to speak with us, sir," said Joe Grummet; "she would show her colours else."
"Then what the devil does she mean by keeping in our wake in this fashion?" said Captain Talbot testily.