"I'd rather drown than live twenty-four hours longer in this blamed boat."
"You'll live over it," growled the thirsty skipper.
"I don't want to live over it. I want to die."
Terrence roared with laughter, then he told a funny story which seemed to increase the pangs of poor Sukey.
By the middle of the afternoon, Fernando had recovered enough to go out on deck. He found the captain and his crew huddled up in the fore part of the deck, discussing a large, square-rigged ship, which was bearing toward them. He heard one of the sailors say:
"She flies English colors."
A little later there was a puff of smoke from her forecastle and a ball dashed into the water athwart their bow.
"It's a cruiser, and that means to heave to; but blow my eyes if I do it!" cried the captain, who was opposed to search and impressment. He put the schooner about and, with all sail spread, flew over the water at a rate of speed which defied pursuit. The cruiser fired several shots after them.
"Who is that shootin'?" Sukey asked unconcernedly, as Fernando entered the wretched cabin.
"A British man-of-war."