We cruised around among the islands, seeing nothing which interested us in the way of business, until the 29th of April, just at sunrise, when all hands rushed on deck at the welcome cry of "Sail ho!" the first we had heard since the day we came across the Barclay.
A large ship could be seen to the westward, and an hour after we began the chase two other craft were sighted a trifle farther south.
With three ships in sight, and the odds in favor of all being enemies, it can well be understood that we were in a fine state of excitement.
Until this time I had positively refused to do as Phil desired in the way of asking my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, to use his influence with Lieutenant Downes to the end that we might be considered as members of his fleet; but on this morning, when it seemed positive there would be hot work in plenty before night, I plucked up sufficient courage, as my kinsman was standing on the break of the quarter, to approach him.
It was the first time since we left port that I had ventured so far as to speak to an officer without first being accosted, and Stephen—I mean Lieutenant McKnight—looked surprised, as indeed he had good cause to be, since it is not customary for boys aboard a man-of-war to address familiarly those who are so far above them in station.
However, it so chanced that the lieutenant was in good humor, as he should have been, with so many possible prizes in sight, and kindly answered my salute by asking what I would have.
Had he been ashore and had I never sailed under his command, I should have accosted him by the name of Stephen, and made known my wants boldly; but now I stuttered and stammered like a simple, thus showing what a difference a uniform and a commission can make.
After a time, however, I managed to say, he kindly encouraging me to "speak up man fashion":—
"There's like to be much work for all hands before night, sir, and Philip Robbins and I are sore at heart because of never having a chance to prove that we can do more than falls to the lot of boys aboard ship."
"So!" the lieutenant said with a laugh. "You are growing down-hearted because there isn't danger enough?"