"Hold, villain!" said I; "do you think to redeem one act of treachery by another? and do you dare to insult the honour of a naval officer with a proposal so infamous? Go to your station instantly, and think yourself fortunate that I do not denounce you to the captain, who has a perfect right to throw you overboard--a fate which your chain of crimes fully deserves." The man skulked away, and I went off to the captain, to whom I related the circumstance, desiring him to be on his guard against treachery. "Your conduct, sir," said the captain, "is what I should have expected from a British naval officer; and since you have behaved so honourably, I will freely tell you that my intention is to shorten sail to the topsails and foresail, and haul dead on a wind into that dark squall to the southward." "As you please," said I; "you cannot expect that I should advise, nor would you believe me if I said I wished you success; but rely on it I will resist, by every means in my power, any unfair means to dispossess you of your command." "I thank you, sir," said the captain, mournfully; and, without losing any more time in useless words, "Shorten sail there," continued he, with a low but firm voice; "take in the lower and topmost studding-sail-- hands aloft--in top-gallant studding-sails, and roll up the top-gallant sails." All this appeared to be done with surprising speed, even to me, who had been accustomed to very well conducted ships of war. One mistake, however, was made; the lower studding-sail, instead of being hauled in on deck, was let to fall overboard, and towed some time under the larboard bow before it was reported to the officers. "Haul in the larboard braces--brace sharp up--port the helm and bring her to the wind, quarter-master." "Port it is, sir," said the man at the helm, and the vessel was close hauled upon the starboard tack; but she did not seem to move very fast, although she had a square mainsail, boom mainsail, and jib. "I think we have done them at last," said the captain; "what do you think, leftenant?" giving me a hearty but very friendly slap on the back. "Come, what say; shall we take a cool bottle of London particular after the fatigues of the day?" "Wait a little," said I, "wait a little." "What are you looking at there to windward?" said the captain, who perceived that my eye was fixed on a particular point. Before I had time to answer, Thompson came up to me and said, "There is the ship, sir," pointing to the very spot on which I was gazing. The captain heard this; and, as fear is ever quicksighted, he instantly caught the object. "Running is of no use now," said he; "we have tried her off the wind, our best going; she beats us at that: and on a wind, I don't think so much of her; but still, with this smooth water and fine breeze, she ought to move better. Solomon, there is something wrong, give a look all round."