"Anything wrong, sir?" queried Jamie.
"I don't like the look of her. I fear she's no friend. We may have to run." Again he examined her. Then, shutting up the glass with a bang, he said--
"Go down, Elliot, and call the captain."
"Aye, aye, sir."
While the captain was being called, eight bells sounded the end of the watch, and though Jack had been eagerly longing for that blessed sound before, he would now willingly have remained aloft to watch that distant speck, which seemed fraught with such danger.
As he reached the deck he met the captain coming up the companion ladder. The latter immediately called out to the first mate, who had remained aloft--
"Is she showing any colours, Mr. Rogers?"
"Not yet, sir!"
"What do you think she is?"
"She's a cruiser, sir. Of that I'm pretty certain, but whether English or French I can't yet say."