It was time, however, for real supper, so we knocked off rowing, and provisions, with grog, were served out, and not sorry I was to rest my arms. A capital supper was made, and the crew seemed to enjoy it much. Once more, with renewed strength, we took to our oars. To pull all night long, with the chance of a fight at the end of it, is not so pleasant as lying snugly in bed; but, under the circumstances, I infinitely preferred being where I was—eagerness gave strength to our arms. We could not go on much longer without falling in with her, it was thought.
“It depends whether she is full or empty,” observed the lieutenant. “If the latter, she’ll be making the best of her way across to the Continent; but if she’s full she’ll be hovering about the coast for the chance of running her cargo. She’ll probably just now have her canvas lowered on deck, so that it will be a hard job to make her out.”
There seemed wisdom in this remark, but as she could have run some of her cargo when she stood in in the afternoon if she had had any on board, the general opinion was that she was steering a course for Dunkirk, to which a smuggling lugger frequenting the coast was known to belong, and it was thought that she must be that same lugger. All we hoped for was that the calm would continue. We were pulling steadily on, the men chatting with each other, when Mr Kelson sung out, “Silence! a sail ahead!” I could not help looking anxiously over my shoulder to ascertain what she was. I could just discern a dark object no great height out of the water.
“She’s the lugger, I really think,” observed Mr Kelson. “I hope she may have some tubs aboard.”
“I pray that she may have the dear children safe,” said Uncle Boz.
“Yes, she’s a lugger, there’s no doubt about that,” remarked the lieutenant.
Everyone was now on the alert, and I saw the men feeling that their weapons were ready for use. My heart beat considerably quicker than usual. We neared the stranger.
“Pull out of stroke, lads,” said Uncle Boz. “They’ll take us for some merchantman’s crew.”
There were several men we could see on the deck of the lugger. It was very difficult to prevent ourselves from dashing up alongside in the way our feelings would have dictated. It seemed strange, however, that they did not exhibit any alarm at our approach. Uncle Boz steered as if going to pass her, then suddenly shearing the boat alongside, we jumped on board.
“Well, what is all this about?” exclaimed a man standing aft, no one offering a show of resistance.