IN WHICH PHIL IS ASSIGNED TO AN IMPORTANT POSITION BY HIS SHIPMATES.
The streak of smoke was on our weather bow, the wind being from the north-east. The fact that the sail was a steamer rendered it almost certain that she was a man-of-war; one of the cruisers on the coast of Africa, on the lookout for slavers. If all hands had not been busy attending to the exciting scenes on board, we might have sooner discovered the sail.
"That's in our favor," said Dick Baxter, as soon as the steamer was made out.
"I don't know about that," replied Jack Sanderson. "If we had taken possession of the bark it would be in our favor. I don't like the idea of being taken just yet, for the man-of-war won't be able to tell who's guilty and who's innocent."
"The steamer will put an end to this cruise, at any rate," I added.
"I'm not so sure of that. The Michigan is a very fast sailer, and I suppose that's the strongest reason why she happens to be in this business. She's more'n a match for some of those old drogers of steamers in the navy," continued Baxter. "She has logged more'n fourteen knots on this cruise; and as the wind is to-day, she's good for twelve, when she gets it on the quarter. That's a British steamer."
"What makes you think so?" I asked.
"Her black smoke. The English men-of-war use that kind of coal which makes smoke as black as ink, and the American men-of-war don't make any smoke."
"All hands on deck!" shouted the mate. "Stand by tacks and braces!"
"How's that? Shall we go to work?" said Baxter.