"Hallo!" he called out fiercely; "what are you about? Do you want to put us alongside!"
And he bawled out fiercely—"Port your helm! run right away under her stern!"
"If you do that," I exclaimed, very anxious now to show how well-intentioned I was, "you will excite her suspicions. Steady!" I cried, seeing the ship drawing rapidly ahead; "bring her to again a point off her course."
Stevens scowled at me, but did not speak.
The crew clustered up the poop ladder to stare at the ship, and I caught some of them casting such threatening looks at me, that I wanted no better hint of the kind of mercy I should receive if I played them any tricks.
"Mr. Stevens," said I, "leave me to manage, and I'll do you no wrong. That ship is making more way than we are, and we shall have her dead on end presently. Then I'll show you what to do."
As I spoke, the vessel which we had brought well on the port-bow hoisted English colours. The old ensign soared gracefully, and stood out at the gaff-end.
"We must answer her," I exclaimed to the carpenter. "You had better bend on the ensign and run it up."
I suppose he knew that there could be no mischievous meaning in the display of this flag, for he obeyed me, though leisurely.
The ship, when she saw that we answered her, hauled her ensign down, and after awhile, during which she sensibly increased the distance between us, and had drawn very nearly stern on, hoisted her number.