The two then proceeded to the quarter-deck, Lovell paying the customary respect to his commanding officer. ‘Sail ho,’ shouted the look-out, with the long drawl peculiar to the hail. ‘Where away,’ promptly demanded the captain, William Lovell could not disguise his nervousness lest Fanny should betray herself; now that he knew the secret other disguise he feared that it might be disclosed at any moment. But there was nothing wanting; she was perfect even in all the minutiæ of sea parlance. ‘Two points on the starboard bow,’ answered the look out. Fanny taking a glass, coolly surveyed the stranger for several-minutes. ‘English, I think,’ she observed to Lovell, referring to the stranger. ‘I make her out so,’ was the reply. ‘It remains to be seen whether we are to run or fight,’ said Captain Channing, (for so we will continue to call Fanny, who was still the same to the crew,) ‘It must be a fast vessel that the Constance cannot spare a topsail to.’ The two vessels neared each other fast, and it was soon evident that the stranger was an English vessel of some five hundred tons, and consequently much larger than the Constance, That she was an armed vessel too, was soon quite evident, for suddenly a cloud of smoke burst from her bows, and anon the dull heavy report of a cannon came down across the water to the brig. ‘Show them that pine tree, Mr. Lovell, that’s what they want.’ ‘Ay, ay, sir,’ said the mate, promptly obeying the order. But no sooner had the flag of the colonial Congress reached its station aloft and expanded to the breeze, than the report of another gun came booming heavily over the sea from the stranger, and this time also a shot; but the ball fell far short of the brig and her consort, throwing a jet of spray aloft as it struck the sea and sunk into its depths. The captain and the first mate conversed together earnestly for a few moments, when the captain turning towards the crew with a countenance beaming with spirit, said: ‘Clear away the long-tom, and prepare for action.’ A dozen willing hands promptly executed the order, and the mate soon took his station by the gun to superintend its management, but not until he had in an under tone urged Fanny to leave the deck and secure herself below. ‘What! skulk below?’ said Fanny, ‘No no, I have seen this game before’ ‘That’s the talk,’ said Terrence Moony, as the order was given to clear away the gun. ‘Jist give me that crisscross flag of England to look at for an enemy and I’ll fight all day, grub time and all. Arrah yes, ye blockheads,’ said he stripping himself to his shirt and trowsers to work at the gun. Terrence loved the English about as well as his satanic majesty affects holy water, and no more, believe us. ‘Be quiet there, forward,’ said Lovell, hearing the loud talk of Terrence as he held forth thus, rather boisterously to the crew, on the forecastle. ‘Ay ay, your honor,’ said Terrence submissively. ‘Moony, come here,’ said Lovell, half angry at the noise.