The next morning we weighed anchor, and returned to our station off Martinique. We had run within three miles of St. Pierre's, when we discovered a vessel coming out under jury-masts. She steered directly for us, and we made her out to be the American brigantine which we had boarded some time before. O'Brien sent a boat to bring the master of her on board. "Well, captain," said he, "so you met with a squall?" "I calculate not," replied he. "Why, then, what the devil have you been about?" "Why, I guess I sold all my cargo, and, what's more, I've sold my masts." "Sold your masts! whom did you sell them to?" "To an almighty pretty French privateer lying in St. Pierre's, which had lost her spars when she was chased by one of your brass-bottomed sarpents; and I've a notion they paid pretty handsomely too." "But how do you mean to get home again?" "I calculate to get into the _stream_, and then I'll do very well. If I meet a nor-wester, why then I'll make a signal of distress, and some one will tow me in, I guess." "Well," replied O'Brien, "but step down into the cabin, and take something, captain." "With particular pleasure," replied this strange mortal; and down they went. In about half-an-hour, they returned on deck, and the boat took the American on board. Soon afterwards, O'Brien desired Osbaldistone and myself to step down into the cabin. The chart of the harbour of St. Pierre's lay on the table, and O'Brien said, "I have had a long conversation with the American, and he states that the privateer is at anchor in this spot" (pointing to a pencil-mark on the chart). "If so, she is well out; and I see no difficulty in capturing her. You see that she lies in four fathoms water, and so close under the outer battery, that the guns could not be pointed down upon the boats. I have also inquired if they keep a good look-out, and the American says that they feel so secure, that they keep no look-out at all; that the captain and officers belonging to her are on shore all night, drinking, smoking, and boasting of what they will do. Now the question is, whether this report be correct. The American has been well-treated by us, and I see no reason to doubt him; indeed he gave the information voluntarily, as if he wished to serve us."