It was not a good sign when he indulged in a laugh, and Gordon knew it.
"What do you mean by sweeps?" he asked.
"Why, cap'n, as to that, I saw a Yankee schooner lying about all day a-watching us."
"You did? So did I. But you don't think any Yankee would venture to touch us in the dark, and the Poietiers so near?"
"As to that, cap'n, them Yanks can see in a fog, or the dark, as well as in daylight, but I'm blessed if there isn't a boat nearby."
Carter put his hands to his lips, and in a voice louder than any fog horn, cried:
"Boat ahoy! where are you?"
There was a slight cessation of the sound of oars, but no further notice was taken.
And again, with the fullest force of his lungs, the captain shouted: