But she did not signalize us, and in a quarter of an hour we were near enough to see the faces of a group of officers leaning over the rail, and to notice that one of them held a trumpet in his hand.
Soon the hail came, "What cutter is that?"
I answered.
"What are you doing out here?"
For an instant I was nonplussed. "Chasing a Yankee privateer," I answered, with an air of bravado.
"Where is she?"
"Got away to the south'ard."
"I'll send a boat on board of you."
This was exactly what I did not wish to happen. "Don't trouble, sir. I'll come on board of you myself," I replied, at the same time ordering out the only boat we had left, a little dingy swung over the stern.
"Now, Chips," said I, "this is a case of must obey. We are edging up to windward, and it's going to thicken. If you can get away, do so; but be cautious. You know the cost. I leave it all to you. Get up to windward without exciting suspicion, and if you don't hear from me in two hours, clear away for home."